SC moved against holding of IPL matches at night

A PIL was on Tuesday filed in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on holding of IPL cricket matches at night citing reasons ranging from security threat to waste of energy in illuminating the stadium.

"The probability of extremists' attack is more during night hours... Power cut is very common in all parts of the country. We should, therefore, be rational in using power. In order to cater to the requirements of the cricket matches, there will be accelerated power cut in more and more areas," the PIL filed jointly by a Kolkata-based forum and others said.

The Howrah Ganatantrik Nagarik Samity which filed the PIL along with Howrah residents -- Subhash Datta and Subhash Chandra Basu -- said public money cannot be used for the commercial venture of private organisations or individuals.

"The income generated from the IPL cricket matches goes to the coffers of non-government body like BCCI and to different other private organisers of the individual teams but money is spent from the state exchequer for making the tournament success," the petition said.

It said rescheduling of IPL matches to day time would benefit the country and people at large without any difficulty and hardships to organisers.

"If the timing of the cricket matches is rescheduled to day hours instead of night hours, the country, our society, environment, security aspects and the people at large will be benefitted without causing any discomfort, difficulty and hardships to the organisers and cricket lovers," the PIL said.

It said the traffic and police forces are withdrawn from their daily duties and are deployed for the event management, putting extra pressure on them which lead to lack of efficiency in the forces.