SUPREME COURT on Monday observed that it is high time the court keeps its hands off in matters related to cricket, noting the increasing commercialisation of the game.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made the remark while hearing a petition challenging a Madhya Pradesh High Court order concerning the cricket association of Jabalpur division.
“There is nothing like sport now in cricket. It is a fact. It is all business,” a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed.
It is pertinent to note however, that the operative part here is “observed”. The likelihood of actual rulings in such cases is another matter altogether.
Coming back to the case in question, the petitioner’s counsel said the country is obsessed with cricket. “I think it is high time that this court should keep its hands off in cricket and badminton, volleyball, basketball,” Justice Nath said.
The counsel argued that such matters reach the apex court because of high stakes involved in modern sports, to which the bench noted that commercialisation naturally invites disputes.
Expressing disinclination to intervene, the bench allowed the petitioner to withdraw the plea.
