BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed authorities and officials in the Youth Empowerment and Sports department and JSW Bangalore Football Club to facilitate day-to-day practice for athletes at the synthetic track of the Kanteerava Stadium in city.While issuing an oral direction, the division bench of acting Chief Justice H G Ramesh and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar gave liberty to the petitioners to move the court if the barricades are not cleared.
Former national and international athletic coaches and athletes, including Ashwini Nachappa, had moved the court seeking directions to the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports to cancel its agreement with the JSW Bangalore Football Club Pvt Ltd.The petitioners also sought directions to create a conducive atmosphere in Kanteerava stadium and facilitate athletes to carry out their day-to-day practice smoothly.
In the public interest litigation, the coaches also sought directions to the JSW Bangalore Football Club to remove any construction, barricade and other blocks constructed so far.
Meanwhile, the counsel of the JSW Club informed the court that they needed the stadium for 3-4 days, were ready to repair damages if any and that barricades were only placed during matches.
They also sought to restore the central area of synthetic track and the Kanteerava stadium field.
The petitioners alleged that the synthetic track was meant for athletics. However, the authorities of the Youth Empowerment and Sports signed an agreement with JSW Bangalore Football Club to promote the recently held Under-17 football world cup. Expressing apprehensions over occupying the field by the JSW further, they said this could result in the synthetic track getting damaged.