SC refuses urgent hearing against promotion of liqour in IPL

New Delhi, Apr 16 (UNI) The Supreme Court today declined to give an urgent hearing on a petition seeking ban on the name of Royal Challengers in Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament starting from April 18.

Petitioner pleaded before a bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran that under the garb of cricket tournament liquor was being promoted which was illegal and would have an adverse affect on the society at large. Therefore, the petition required an urgent hearing.

The petition was filed yesterday by one Y Kapoor.

According to the petitioner, Royal Challenge is the name of a brand of whisky manufactured and sold by the company, owned by Vijay Mallya who has purchased Bangalore team of the IPL and has given it the name Royal Challengers.

The petitioner alleged that in the name of cricket a liquor brand could not be promoted and this should be immediately banned and the name of Royal Challengers must also be changed.

The apex court told the petitioner that this was not such an important matter and needed no urgent hearing. Let the case come up for hearing in a normal course.

UNI SC SW HS1153