The Delhi High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the use of the name “Team India” for the cricket team run by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The PIL argued that since the BCCI is a private organisation, it has no right to call its team the “Indian National Cricket Team” or use national symbols like the flag. The petition, filed by lawyer Reepak Kansal, claimed that when public broadcasters such as Doordarshan and All India Radio project the BCCI team as representing India, it misleads the public into thinking the team has official government recognition.

The plea also highlighted that the BCCI is registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975, and is not recognised as a statutory body or government authority. Also, it is not registered as a National Sports Federation eligible for government funding. Despite these claims, the Bench, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, strongly rejected the PIL, calling it a “sheer wastage of time.”

The judges questioned the foundation of the plea, asking, “Are you saying that the team does not represent India?” The PIL had cited concerns under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and the Flag Code of India, 2002, claiming that using the national flag and name for a private entity could harm the sanctity of national symbols and grant undeserved commercial legitimacy to the BCCI.

High Court Rejects PIL, Confirms BCCI’s Rights

The petition also argued that this practice allows a private association to profit in the name of the country. However, the High Court did not share the apprehensions. It asked the lawyer to improve the PIL in the future and completely dismissed the matter and effectively allowed the BCCI to use the name "Team India" for its cricket team.

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This ruling once again confirms the BCCI’s unique status in Indian sports. Despite being a private organisation, it manages the country’s most popular sport while being widely recognised as the national cricket team by fans, media, and broadcasters. The order of the court reaffirms that the team can continue to be called "Team India" without legal restrictions.

A new PIL has been filed against Mullanpur Stadium, the new home ground of Punjab Kings in IPL 2024. The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium at Mullanpur is entangled in legal intricacies. A public interest litigation (PIL) petition has been filed against its construction. The petition, driven by concerns over environmental regulations, challenges the stadium’s development to prescribed standards.

Background of the PIL

The PIL petition, rooted in environmental apprehensions, highlights the construction irregularities surrounding the Mullanpur Stadium. Specifically, the petition underscores the failure to comply with essential environmental conditions, particularly concerning its proximity to a bird sanctuary.

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Environmental Concerns Surrounding the Stadium

One of the primary contentions raised in the PIL revolves around the failure to obtain requisite environmental clearances for the stadium’s construction. Situated within a 10-kilometre radius of a bird sanctuary, the stadium’s development allegedly disregarded environmental protocols, raising significant concerns regarding its impact on the local ecosystem.

Impact on IPL Franchise Punjab Kings

The legal battle surrounding the stadium bears significant implications for the IPL franchise Punjab Kings, which has designated the Mullanpur stadium as its new home ground. Potential repercussions from the court’s decision could result in a halt to IPL matches at the venue, thereby disrupting the team’s scheduled fixtures for the ongoing IPL 2024 season.

Mullanpur stadium has hosted only one IPL match so far, which was played between home team Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals on 23rd March. Punjab Kings won this match by 4 wickets.

Supreme Court’s Directive and its Implications

In accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive, any construction within the vicinity of a protected area necessitates prior environmental clearances from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The alleged oversight in securing these clearances has prompted legal scrutiny. Now this is raising pertinent questions regarding the stadium’s compliance with regulatory mandates.