MUMBAI: The Madras High Court on Friday conditionally cleared the decks for Pro Volleyball League to go ahead, refusing to stay the operation of an agreement entered between the Volleyball Federation of India and PVL’s commercial rights holders Baseline Ventures.
A Division Bench of Justices M Sathyanarayanan and P Rajamanickam said it was not inclined to grant an interim stay on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition without giving an opportunity to the Sports Ministry, the VFI as well as Baseline an opportunity to make their submissions before the court, The Hindu reports.
The Bench, however, made it clear that the subsistence of the agreement, signed on February 21, would be subject to the result of the PIL petition filed by Sebastian George, 59, former captain of Kerala State volleyball team and incumbent managing trustee of a foundation named after the late Jimmy George, the legendary volleyball player who died in 1987.
The daily, quotes George, from his affidavit, as having claimed that almost all the clauses in the agreement were lopsided. Hence, it would result in the “death knell” to volleyball in the country if implemented. He also accused the federation of having finalised the agreement through private negotiations without inviting tenders from all interested companies.
The idea of starting a league for volleyball was originally conceived by Sportz & Live Entertainment Pvt Ltd (Sportzlive) in 2015 and an agreement was signed in 2016 for a league that had pretty much the same template as what is being set up currently. However, due to infighting between office-bearers of the federation, that agreement was not given effect to, he alleged.
In his plea, the petitioner claimed that as per the terms of the agreement Sportzlive had signed with VFI, the federation would have received Rs 327.1 million over 10 years, whereas the deal finally closed with Baseline guarantees a payment of only Rs 159.1 million over the same period of time. Thus, the federation would lose considerable revenue, he alleged.
However, VFI’s counsel, while opposing the PIL plea, accused the petitioner of fronting for a rival competitor (read Sportzlive). Assuring the court that volleyball players would not be prevented from participating in international tournaments during the course of the league as apprehended by the petitioner, he sought time to file a detailed counter affidavit.
Accepting his request, the judges adjourned further hearing to January 11. In the meantime, they directed the petitioner’s counsel to serve the case papers on Assistant Solicitor General G Karthikeyan for obtaining necessary instructions from the Centre, The Hindu further reports.
The six teamss competing in the inaugural edition of Pro Volleyball League are Ahmedabad Defenders, Calicut Heroes, Chennai Spartans, U Mumba Volley, Black Hawks Hyderabad and Kochi Blue Spikers.
The league will be played in two legs across Kochi and Chennai from February 2 to February 22nd and will be broadcast live on SONY TEN 3 and SONY SIX.
