Guwahati Veterinary College Court sets rules & regulations for use of playground

The Gauhati High Court has issued a directive whereby rules and regulations have been laid down for use of the Veterinary College playground at Khanapara here. The order has forbidden use of the playground area for marriage and other social or family functions. The bench also directed that the proposed "helipad be constructed beyond the areas specified for sports activities."

The directive was issued by the bench of Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Ajai Lamba and Justice Achintya Malla Bujor Barua in public interest litigation (PIL) by Anirban Roy.

Mentionable, the Assam Agricultural University is having a Multipurpose Sports Complex set up in Khanapara in 1977 over a plot of 54 bighas, which formerly was jail land. However, the land was handed over to Assam Agricultural University by the Government of Assam with the purpose of promoting sports activities. The total area of the sports complex as of now is 46.60 bighas. A standard twin-cricket pitch was also constructed in the sports complex and was inaugurated in March 2011.

The Court order further specified that "Only functions of national interest may be held on the sports grounds and that too rarely and only in public interest, however, on the conditions detailed herein below:

“(i) An application would be filed by the person/authority who wants to use such grounds while clearly specifying the purpose of use. The Dean of the University would be at liberty to demand security, which should be sufficient to restore the ground for the concerned sport. In case the proposed use is such that it is likely to damage the sports field/ground to an extent that it cannot be conveniently restored, the Dean would have absolute authority and discretion to reject the application.

“(ii) In case after use of the field/ground, the grounds are not restored by the user to its original state, the Dean would have the discretion to utilize the security amount for the restoration of the grounds for the purpose it is meant."

Stating "It has become evident that the fields meant for sports activities are being used for purposes other than sports. Such non-sporting activity would obviously result in damage to the field. A field prepared/constructed for playing Cricket or Football is used, for other purposes by a large number of persons, logically the field would be rendered useless for playing the sport."

The order further stated: "We direct that in case any of the fields meant for any of the Sports Mentioned above has been damaged, the same be restored to international standards, as early as possible, and in no case beyond a period of three months from today (November 11, 2019 – the date of the judgment). Considering the delicacy involved in maintaining the cricket field/ground, the field meant for cricket be demarcated and barricaded so that the said field/ground is not used for any other purposes."

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