The Delhi High Court (HC) has asked the Delhi government, the municipal corporation and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, to consider opening school grounds for the public on a “pay-and-play basis or any other scheme” and sought their stand on the issue.

A bench headed by justice Najmi Waziri pointed out the lack of easy access to sports fields and facilities for the ordinary citizens and opined that neighbourhood sports facilities of government schools would be convenient for children and sports enthusiasts.

The court also stated that opening of stadia and sports facilities is primarily for the benefit of sports persons and asked the Delhi government, Sports Authority of India and other concerned authorities to consider opening Thyagaraj Sports Complex, Chhatrasal Stadium, Shivaji Stadium and Punjabi Bagh Stadium for a longer duration that is from 5 am to 10 pm to overcome the exhausting heat during practice and play during the summer months.

“Let the Government of NCT of Delhi, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (under the Union Ministry of Education), examine the matter and file their affidavits apropos opening of sports grounds in schools under their respective jurisdictions and for making them available for optimal use for the larger public good; if possible, on a pay-and-play basis and/or any other scheme; while all along ensuring that the said schools retain all their rights in the land and its students too benefit from the additional sports facilities as may be created in their lands,” the bench comprising of Justice Vikas Mahajan said in its order dated May 26.

The students would also benefit from the additional sports facilities as may be created in the school ground.

“The court would take into consideration that all over the city the lack of easy access to stadia, sports fields and other sports facilities for the ordinary citizens, is well known. This could well be remedied and facilitated, in the first instance, by making available playgrounds of government schools or other schools owned or managed by statutory authorities. Such neighbourhood sports facilities would be convenient for children and sports enthusiasts,” it added.

The court was dealing with a petition by senior advocate Rahul Mehra concerning the compliance with the sports code by the national sports federation.

With inputs from PTI.

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