The Kerala High Court recently dismissed a Public Interest Litigation challenging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for using the name Indian Premier League (IPL). A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. officially rejected the plea regarding the title.
The franchise-based T20 competition began in 2008, featuring superstars from across the globe. The highly anticipated 19th season of the IPL is scheduled to begin on Saturday, March 28. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the opening fixture.
BCCI Faces Challenge Over Use of ‘Indian Premier League’ Name in Petition
The plea was filed by Ashique Karoth from Ernakulam, who argued that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not officially recognized by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
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Relying on official documents, including the Memorandum of Association, he contended that the domestic cricket tournament is a private enterprise run by its administrators.
He claimed that since the Indian Premier League operates privately, the continued use of the name Indian Premier League is misleading and illegal. He sought immediate judicial intervention to restrain the BCCI from using the title in the future.
During the proceedings, advocates P.V. Rema and M.V. Rathish represented the petitioner. Senior government pleader V. Tekchand appeared for the State government, while Arjun Venugopal represented the Union government. The High Court evaluated the arguments before delivering its final decision.
Kerala High Court Rejects Plea, Says Delayed Challenge to IPL Name Lacks Merit
The Kerala High Court explained its reasoning while dismissing the petition. The bench observed that the Indian Premier League has been operating smoothly for several years. It said the delayed challenge was not sufficient to invoke the court’s jurisdiction at this stage.
“The said tournament is continuing for several years and it is now stated that the petitioner recently realised that the IPL is not an official Cricket tournament of the Country and as such the use of the name Indian Premier League is illegal as used by the Board of Control for Cricket. We find no merit in the substance of the said argument and hence we do not feel that it would be proper to keep this writ petition as a Public Interest Litigation,” the Court said.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Cleared to Host IPL Matches After Government Approval
In positive news for cricket fans, the uncertainty over M. Chinnaswamy Stadium hosting the upcoming IPL matches ended. The Karnataka state government has granted permission after the venue previously missed games following a tragic stampede during the RCB victory parade last year.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association released an official statement outlining safety protocols. A key meeting was held at Vidhana Soudha under Karnataka Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar, where an expert committee and RCB representatives discussed strict compliance measures at the stadium.
“Based on the recommendations of the Expert Committee and after reviewing the arrangements in detail, the Home Minister has formally accorded approval for the conduct of the upcoming IPL matches at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.”
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