New Delhi, Oct 8: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the “arbitrary and misleading portrayal” of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the official “Indian National Cricket Team” by government-owned broadcasters Doordarshan and All India Radio (AIR).
“Are you saying that the team does not represent India? The team which is going and playing everywhere, they are misrepresenting? Forget about BCCI. If Doordarshan or any other authority projects it as team India, is it not team India?” a Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela questioned the PIL litigant.
“Are you aware of the rules of the IOC [International Olympic Committee]? Are you aware of the Olympic charter? Olympic movement? Are you aware that in the past, wherever there has been government intervention in sports, the IOC has come down heavily,” added CJ Upadhyaya-led Bench, further remarking that the plea was a “sheer wastage of time”.
Asking advocate Reepak Kansal to “file better PILs”, the Delhi High Court proceeded to dismiss the matter. The plea sought directions against Prasar Bharati for continuing to refer to the privately-run BCCI team as the national team. (IANS)
