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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court on Thursday castigated the state government for its decision to retrospectively reduce the police protection fee to be paid by the organizers during the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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.

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

The bench criticised the state government and asked them to file a reply to the PIL. “What is this? You keep increasing water charges for slum dwellers but reduce these fees? BCCI is one of the richest cricket associations globally. That’s how they become rich?” the bench said.

The bench has asked the state to explain the justification for reducing the fee. The bench directed that the Additional Chief Secretary file a reply and detail the efforts taken to recover the dues.

Case title: Anil Galgali vs State of Maharashtra