We’ll not pay spectators, TNCA tells Madras HC

The devil in the case, of course, was the small print.

“Traditionally the advertisements preceding announcement of ticket sales as well as the conditions printed on the ticket itself clearly stipulate that the organisers do not guarantee the duration of the game and that no claim for refunds would be entertained under any circumstances,” the TNCA said in a counter affidavit filed in the High Court.

The counter was filed in response to two PILs filed in the Court seeking a direction to the association to refund the amount paid on purchase of tickets for the November 22 ODI between India and South Africa which was washed out by heavy rains.

Seeking dismissal of both the petitions on two grounds, the counter affidavit, filed on behalf of the association by its secretary C R Vijayaraghavan, pointed out that the prayers were for personal relief for the respective petitioners.

Besides it could not be judged whether the petitioners espoused the cause of the general public “in the absence of pleadings by either party of being public spirited.” Except for a handful of people, the general public, to whom about 40,000 tickets had been sold for the match, had not made any claim, the affidavit said.