The Madras High Court dismissed a PIL seeking to stop IPL matches during elections, calling it based on “mere apprehension.” The Court said the Election Commission is fully capable of handling any violations and advised citizens to raise concerns directly if needed.
The Madras High Court on Monday refused to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) that sought directions to regulate Indian Premier League matches in Tamil Nadu during the election period. The case raised concerns about possible violations of the Model Code of Conduct during IPL matches.
A Bench led by Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice Arul Murugan observed that the petition was based only on assumptions and lacked any real evidence of wrongdoing. The Court also pointed out that the Election Commission of India is the proper authority to deal with any violations related to elections.
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The petitioner had requested the Court to either postpone IPL matches until after the elections or ensure strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct at match venues. The plea also asked for a ban on displaying political symbols, advertisements, or campaign materials inside stadiums during matches.
However, the Court made it clear that such concerns are already within the powers of the Election Commission. It stated that if any violation of the Model Code of Conduct takes place, the Commission is fully capable of taking necessary action. The Bench further noted that several earlier judgments have already recognised and upheld the authority of the Election Commission in such matters.
Importantly, the Court highlighted that at least one IPL match had already been conducted in Tamil Nadu without any issues or complaints, weakening the basis of the petition.
During the hearing, the Bench remarked,
“It’s a mere apprehension. One match is over. If you are not able to point out anything, what happens? You saw the match or not? What happened? Nothing happened,” clearly indicating that the petition lacked any concrete proof.
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In a lighter tone, the Court also added,
“You enjoyed the match. Enjoy the second match also.”
At the same time, the Bench clarified that citizens are free to approach the Election Commission if they notice any violation or have genuine concerns regarding election-related conduct.
In the end, after the Court’s observations, the petitioner decided to withdraw the plea.
Case Title:
Prabhakaran v. Chief Election Commissioner
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