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Senior Advocate Milind Sathe, representing the state, informed the bench that a protest had been raised by the cricket association, following which a decision was made to reduce the fee retrospectively, considering the fees charged in other states
The BCCI on Tuesday informed the Bombay High Court that, regarding matches conducted in Mumbai, there are no outstanding dues related to the police protection fee.
“Except for eliminators, BCCI are not liable to pay. The state's affidavit says I am liable to pay. So far as Mumbai is concerned there is nothing payable,” the counsel appearing for BCCI submitted.
The division bench of the high court, comprising Chief Justice Devendra Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar, was hearing a PIL filed by RTI activist Anil Galgali challenging the state's decision to reduce the police protection fee.
Senior Advocate Milind Sathe, representing the state, informed the bench that a protest had been raised by the cricket association, following which a decision was made to reduce the fee retrospectively, considering the fees charged in other states. In response, the bench remarked,
“It is who you prescribed a rate and they agreed to it. They knew at the time of hosting that they were liable to pay. it is prima facie, you could’ve given security without charge but you issued GR and made them know that they will charge. They hosted it and now after 10 years, you are revising? Can you compare events happening in Bombay and events in Kanpur?” the bench said.
The petitioner claimed that the organizers owed ₹14 crores to the state of Maharashtra for providing police protection during the matches.
The bench, in its order, noted that the police protection fees had been changed several times. 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 bench took on record the affidavit filed by the principal secretary of home, DGP, and deputy commissioner of police. The bench allowed BCCI and Mumbai Cricket Association to file its reply by 10 December and allowed the petitioner to file its rejoinder within a week.
The matter will now be heard on December 17.
Case title: Anil Galgali vs State of Maharashtra
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