IPL 2018: Don't make mistake in enthusiasm to approve Kotla club house, Delhi HC to SDMC

The Delhi High Court on Saturday cautioned the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) against making a mistake in its "enthusiasm" to give structural stability approval to the Feroz Shah Kotla's old club house, for setting up equipment to broadcast upcoming IPL matches.

The first IPL match at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground is scheduled for April 23.

Even as the high court made this observation, it left to the SDMC to take a call, including taking a second opinion, on the structural safety of the old club house, also known as the R P Mehra block.

The court said the corporation appeared to be enthusiastic about giving the structural stability approval to the old club house, as till date, it was not even sure if the structure conforms to the National Building Code.

Justice Rajiv Shakdher cautioned the SDMC that in its "enthusiasm to give seal of approval (to the block), don't end up making a mistake. If you make a mistake someone from your organisation will pay for it." The court told the SDMC to go through the structural stability reports regarding the block, given by the civic body's consultant and the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) and to file an affidavit before May 10 saying it was satisfied with the findings.

The court said the corporation can get a second opinion, if required.

The report by SDMC's consultant had said the structure could be used subject to the DDCA giving undertakings that the old club house conforms to the National Building Code and the Indian Standards code.

The report given by the expert hired by the DDCA had said the structure was unsafe as far as earthquakes were concerned but would be completely fit for use after retrofitting.

However, the DDCA expert had said the block can be used to accommodate a small number of persons and about five tonne of equipment.

While issuing the direction to SDMC to go through both reports, the court asked the cricketing body why it was "so keen on using every part of the building (stadium)".

"How much would you (DDCA) lose if you don't use it (old club house)," the court also asked, and observed that the cricket body financial means to completely redo or rebuild the old club house.

During arguments earlier in the day, the SDMC said it cannot take responsibility if there is any casualty owing to collapse of the block.

The corporation said that under the building byelaws the responsibility of giving an assurance and insuring against any loss of life, has to be taken up by the builder, owner, structural engineer, architect, contractor or sub-contractor of a structure.

"Entire onus is on them," the corporation said to the court and added it has no in-house structural safety expert and its civil engineers cannot certify a building as stable.

The submission prompted the court to observe, "what kind of an organisation is this".

The submission by the corporation came in response to the court's observation two days ago that the corporation's neck would be on the line if the civic body wanted to certify the old club house as structurally stable to accommodate broadcasters and their equipment for the upcoming IPL matches.

The high court had said if the structure collapses and there is some casualty, the responsibility would rest on the corporation and the DDCA, which owns the stadium.

The DDCA had earlier told the court that if the old club house cannot be used to put up the broadcasting equipment and related personnel, IPL matches scheduled to be held there from April 23 would not take place at this stadium.

The court was hearing an application moved by DDCA's Administrator, former Supreme Court judge Vikramajit Sen, seeking permission to use the old club house to set up the equipment of the broadcasters, saying that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said no match can be held there without that.

The plea, filed by advocate Pradeep Chhindra, has said tickets for the block, having a capacity of 5,000 seats, would not be issued to the general public and only broadcasting equipment and commentators would be accommodated there.