HC permits Murugappa Group to use spectator box during IPL match

Chennai, Apr 22 (UNI) Madras High Court today permitted the Murugappa Group of Companies to use their exclusive spectator box in the phase II of the M A Chidambaram Stadium here during the IPL Cricket matches.

Justice V Ramasubramanian, while passing an interim order on a petition filed by company Vice Chairman and Director (Marketing) A Vellayan, directed the company to take a Fixed Deposit in a nationalised bank for Rs six lakh in favour of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) for a period of 90 days and submit the deposit receipt along with memo before the Court on or before April 24.

The petitioner submitted that the Murugapa Group of Companies had exclusive right over the use of special air-conditioned Spectator Box for witnessing cricket tournaments, including the IPL event scheduled for tomorrow, by virtue of a valid agreement as was evident from TNCA's letter.

The Association had no authority to assign such a right to any other body or person or third party till the said agreement subsists i.e. upto December 31, 2008.

The petitioner also submitted that the TNCA had violated the agreement and issued a communication on April four depriving the Company of the existing right, which was illegal.

Any attempt on the part of the TNCA to deny the company's right to display the group's name on the space allotted to them in the IPL tournament would cause grave prejudice to the Company and the same could not be retrieved by any other means, the petitioner contended.

The petitioner prayed for an interim injunction, restraining the TNCA from interfering with the company's right to use spectator box during the IPL match scheduled to be held on April 23.

The court permitted the petitioner company to use the spectator box in M A Chidambaram stadium on April 23 and on subsequent days when IPL matches are held there.

UNI XR SJ AKJ AS2041