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Synopsis

The State Government has told the Bombay High Court that the police protection fee for organizing cricket matches has been reduced to boost the financial and economic health of the state.

“..organizing cricket matches in the State of Maharashtra boosts financial and economic health of the State. I fruther state that, such matches generate increased employments, both temporary as well as permanent. It also results in increased generation of revenue as well as taxes, growth in hospitality, restaurants, transport, boost to small local businesses as well as other related ancillary activities. I state that, such factors have been given due regard to before taking a policy decision,” the affidavit states.

The reply was filed by the state government in a PIL by RTI activist Anil Galgali, challenging the state's decision to reduce the police protection fee.

The reply further stated that reducing the fee was deemed appropriate as a policy decision, which would result in continued economic benefits to the local economy and make the State competitive against other states to host more matches.

The petitioner claimed that the organizers owed ₹14 crores to the state of Maharashtra for providing police protection during the matches.

It highlighted that the 2017 circular specified a fee of ₹66 lahks for T20 and ODI matches in Mumbai, and ₹44 lakhs in Nagpur and Pune. Additionally, the fees were set for test matches at ₹55 lakh in Mumbai and ₹40 lakh in Nagpur and Pune.

The 2018 government resolution changed the fee to ₹75 lahks for T20 and ODI matches in Mumbai, and ₹50 lakhs in Nagpur and Pune. The test match fees were changed to ₹60 lakh in Mumbai and ₹40 lakh in Nagpur and Pune.

The petitioner argued that the 2023 government resolution retrospectively reduced the fee to ₹10 lakh from 2011.

The affidavit filed by the state also stated that hosting cricket matches, including international cricket league matches, has a positive impact in various ways, including stimulating economic activities.

Furthermore, it stated that after a representation was made in 2020 by the Mumbai Cricket Association, a decision was taken to reduce the police protection fee.

“..despite the stadiums in the State being one of the best in the world with world class facilities as opposed to those available in the other cities within the Country, as well as after due consideration being given to the written representation of Respondent No. 6 and after considering the various contributory factors which had a direct and indirect effect of boosting the economy of the State which is also enumerated in paragraph herein above as also the charges levied by various other States, a policy decision was taken by the Cabinet of to revise the police bandobast fees with effect from 2011 as more particularly set out in the Circular dated 26.06.2023,” the affidavit states.

Case title: Case title: Anil Galgali vs State of Maharashtra