Delhi HC allows DDCA to allocate tickets to school kids
The Delhi High court on Tuesday allowed a plea seeking permission to give away over 8000 tickets for the upcoming India versus South Africa match at the Ferozshah Kotla stadium to EWS schoolchildren of government schools for free.
The bench of Justice BD Ahmed and justice VK Rao allowed the plea, which had been filed on behalf of Justice Mukul Mudgal, appointed by the court as “observer” to manage the match. In his plea, Justice Mudgal had said that the suggestion was made since most of the stands tended to remain empty during Test matches. The DDCA has agreed to bear the cost of the tickets, and advocate Sunil K Mittal, counsel for the DDCA also informed the bench that it would pay the required taxes for the seats.
“It has been prayed that the court permit the DDCA to provide Rs 50 denomination season tickets to school children along with accompanying teachers for east stand lower level having capacity of about 8225 seats for the said match. We request Justice Mudgal to ensure children from economically weaker sections and those studying in government schools in Delhi should be provided this facility,” said the bench.
Further infighting
Meanwhile, in a separate plea before the bench of Justice VP Vaish, further clashes seem to be brewing between office bearers of the DDCA. The plea was filed by the DDCA seeking release of funds from a bank account in the Central Bank of India, which was frozen after allegations surfaced of fraud and breach of trust by the Acting President, treasurer and other officials in process of opening the account. Over 8 crore is currently in the accounts, and the Delhi police filed an FIR on November 3, regarding the allegations that the account was opened without authorisation and funds were illegally transferred into it. The FIR was registered on court orders after a complaint was filed by DDCA director Sunil Dev. On Tuesday however, Dev appeared personally before the Delhi High court bench supporting the plea to release funds, claiming that he was ready to withdraw the complaint.
The DDCA in its plea has said that the funds are necessary for organising the upcoming India South Africa Test match. However Dinesh Saini, currently the joint secretary corporate affairs, and Sunil Jain, a director of the DDCA filed an impleadment application, stating that the funds should not be released.
Advocate Ishaan Madaan, appearing for the two, told the court that the funds were now “case property” in the fraud and breach of trust case, and should not be released till the investigation by the police is completed. The lawyer also argued that the board resolution through which President Chetan Chauhan and treasurer R Manchanda had opened the account, had “never been approved” by the board of directors.
The bench on Tuesday refused to take up the issue, and has asked all parties to file affidavits stating their stand. The matter will now be heard on November 27.
