Think about students before allowing sporting events: HC

Officials from the Police Department and Pollution Control Board should keep the board examinations in mind before allowing mega sports events on open grounds near residential localities, said the Bombay High Court recently.

Officials from the Police Department and Pollution Control Board should keep the board examinations in mind before allowing mega sports events on open grounds near residential localities, said the Bombay High Court recently.

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“That (such events) would inevitably affect their academic performance in the examinations,” said the division bench of Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice S.S. Shinde.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Aurangabad-based Anand Salvi, who had sought ban on use of loudspeakers during Aurangabad Premier League, a cricket tournament, at ADCC stadium. Salvi had said that the event which took place between March 3 and March 11, coincided with Classes 10 and 12 board exams.

The HC eventually allowed the tournament to be completed after the organisers assured they would abide by the pollution control norms and would maintain permissible decibel limits.

Taking a jibe at local politicians, the high court said: “It appears that such events are organised by the local politicians with the sole intention of networking with the masses.”

The judges also noted that in the name of promoting sports, such events are being organised to consolidate one’s political position. “It is obvious that the organisers were least concerned about the fallout of such mega events on the students staying within the vicinity and for that matter even in the neighborhood who were likely to be distracted from studies,” they added.