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‘Can’t step into Admn shoes’: HC bins plea for restoring stadium

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking its intervention for directing the UT Administration to take immediate steps to restore the Sector 17 football stadium, which is now part of Tiranga Urban Park....
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The petioner had sought ample buffer space around the playing field at the renovated stadium. File photo
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The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking its intervention for directing the UT Administration to take immediate steps to restore the Sector 17 football stadium, which is now part of Tiranga Urban Park.

The court of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sumeet Goel observed that the judiciary cannot step into the Administration’s shoes and start running it.

“The UT Administration has already informed that due to space constraints, the buffer area in and around the football field is not being provided. In the considered opinion of this court, the policy matter of the football field being of a particular size cannot be gone into when the stadium is not open for national and international matches. This court cannot step into the shoes of the Administration,” read the order.

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It added, “In view of the above, no interference is called for and the petition stands dismissed.”

The PIL demanded immediate remedial steps to restore the Sector 17 stadium in conformity with international standards. The complex was renovated to upgrade the facility for which a huge amount was sanctioned. The petitioner also asked for setting up a committee headed by a retired High Court Judge or any other independent agency to investigate the ‘lackadaisical’ conduct of the respondent-Administration and also hold its officials responsible for the same, while suggesting remedial steps to be taken by the Administration.

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“This court, vide order dated July 17 last year, restricted the scope of this petition only with regard to the sporting activities in and around Sector 17. However, the only contention raised by the counsel for the petitioner is that the area made available for football field (107x17 m) in Tiranga Urban Park was less. There should have been ample buffer space around the field so that players did not collide with the fending/boundary wall. The petitioner’s counsel also contended that the buffer area, which should have been available around the football field, has instead been utilised for installing sprinklers and laying drainage,” added the order.

The stadium, which was once a centre of attraction for the region’s football lovers, was closed in 2018 for renovation. It was reopened on a trial basis in November 2021. However, the Sports Department refused to take charge of the facility, citing technical issues. The stadium developed shortcomings after its renovation and is still under the Engineering Department (Horticulture).

It has hosted one tournament, ‘Baby League’, in the past. At present, the city has football fields at the Sector 46 Sports Complex and the Sector 42 Sports Complex, where trainees of the state-run academy practise the game.

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