HC refuses to stay Channel [V] music bash; SAI cautioned

Expressing deep concern over renting out the stadium for the show, especially when the Indian contingent for Bangkok Asiad was going to have a final training there from November 25, the court reminded the Sports Authority of India (SAI) that the facilities were meant for sportpersons.On the plea of additional solicitor general (ASG) Kirti Rawal, appearing for the Centre and SAI, that the training camp wasshifted to Nehru stadium at the last moment because the facilities at Jamshedpur were found inadequate, the bench said the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and other sports bodies considered must have known this much earlier as everyone was aware of the dates of the Asian games.

The PIL filed by Yashpal Chhabra, a Delhi state athlete, had sought stay of the function claiming it would cause damage to the artificial synthetic turf and track.

The court appointed advocate Sanjay Krishan Kaul as special commissioner to have an inspection of the stadium today and after the show tomorrow to find out if any damage is caused to it.

While fixing the next hearing for January 11, the bench asked Kaul to submit his report within two weeks. Criticising the IOA for its `casual’ approach, the court said the Asiad contingent should have not been sent to Jamshedpur at all if the facilities there were not adequate.

Cautioning the sports bodies against such a mess, the court said “we hope and trust that in future suchthings do not happen.”

Rawal during arguments said Channel V would provide SAI Rs six lakh as rent and Rs 16.8 lakh towards the installation and dismantling charges. Besides, there was an insurance cover of Rs 7 crore against any possible damage, he said.

He said SAI was facing financial crisis as allocation of funds by the government during the past three years had remained static and it was decided that some revenue should be raised from renting out the stadium while taking care that no damage was caused to it.

Regarding fixing of training schedule at Jamshedpur, he said it was planned about a year back and the tracks there at that time were perfectly alright.Rawal said all preventive measures had been taken and the turf and tracks had been provided protective cover.

To a specific query by the bench, Rawal said of the Rs 30 crore annual budget for SAI, Rs 10 crore were spent on the maintenance facilities at its different centres and the remaining on sportpersons’ training and salaries of coachesand the staff.

To another pointed query, the court was informed by ASG that SAI had earned Rs 45.03 lakh from 14 non-sports events and Rs 6.78 lakh from 44 sports events organised in the stadium so far.

Former attorney general Ashok Desai appearing for the Channel V expressed surprise over filing of the petition at the last moment, saying the advertisements about the show were published in various newspapers by them in September and the petitioner should have known about it.

However, petitioner’s counsel Ashwani Bhardwaj said the plea was only moved after he came to know about shifting of the training venue of the Asiad contingent.

On the prayer of safeguarding the interest of sportpersons in future, the court said “we are going to monitor the case for some time.”

Channel V music awards, India’s first official music awards (as recognised by the Indian music industry), will be carrying on from last year’s theme of “vote de, prize le” with about two million frenzied college and school kids votingfor their nominees.