The petitioner filed a writ petition in the nature of PIL seeking direction to the respondent No.1 to pay the GST at the rate of 18 per cent on complimentary tickets given for the four IPL matches held in Usha Raje Holkar Stadium, Indore. He stated that Kings XI Punjab took the Usha Raje Holkar Stadium from the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association for the IPL matches held on 4, 6, 12 and May 14, 2018 at the rate of Rs.3 crores per match on the basis of sitting capacity of the stadium. It distributed free passes of the matches worth of Rs. 80 lakhs to the respondent Nos.1, 2 & 3. The entire petition is based on the report published in the local newspaper about distribution of free passes worth Rs. 80 lakhs to the Collector. No other material has been produced in the petition in support of the allegations.
In the Apex Court in case of Mohd. Sahil v. Union of India [Writ Petition(S) (Civil) No.1115/2017] vide order dated 24.11.2017 has dismissed the public interest litigation which was filed on the basis of some newspaper reports. The aforesaid order is reproduced below:
“This petition is filed only on the basis of some newspapers reports which cannot be the basis for filing a Public Interest Litigation. Therefore, this petition is dismissed at this stage. However, if the petitioner collects some credible material he shall be entitled to approach the Court. With the aforesaid observations, the writ petition is dismissed.”
The present petition is also based on the newspapers report, hence, same is not liable to be entertained and accordingly dismissed. However, liberty is granted to the petitioner that he can approach this Court if he collects some credible material in respect of the allegations made in the petition.
Citation: [2018] 96 taxmann.com 464 (Madhya Pradesh)