CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has declined to intervene in a petition seeking postponement of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches scheduled in Chennai during the ongoing Assembly election period in Tamil Nadu.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan observed that concerns over potential violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) were based on mere assumptions and could not justify judicial interference.
The court remarked that one of the matches had already taken place without any reported issues, suggesting there was no immediate cause for concern. It emphasized that enforcement of the MCC falls under the jurisdiction of the Election Commission, which is already taking appropriate measures.
Dismissing the plea as withdrawn, the bench noted that public interest litigations cannot be entertained on hypothetical or anticipatory grounds. The petitioner, a resident of Triplicane constituency, had sought strict enforcement of election norms to prevent any display of political symbols, banners, or promotional material during the matches.
The petition also raised concerns about possible political gatherings around the stadium leading to disruptions. However, the court reiterated that any actual violations should be reported to the Election Commission rather than pre-emptively restricting sporting events.
As per the IPL schedule, matches featuring Chennai Super Kings against Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals are slated to be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in April.