ARIJIT BANERJEE,J. - (1.) The petitioner has filed this Public Interest Litigation alleging that the authorities of Cricket Association of Bengal (in short C.A.B.) are proposing to change the name of the cricket ground Eden Gardens. The basis of the apprehension of the petitioner appears to be a report in the daily edition of the newspaper "The Telegraph" dated 19th December 2015.
(2.) In the said newspaper report it is stated that the C.A.B. has decided to float tender for the sponsorship of the Eden Gardens arena. However, the members of C.A.B. have rejected the idea of using the sponsors' name as a prefix to the name of the venue. It is also stated that a senior C.A.B. officer has given a statement that it is very important to monetize the arena and the C.A.B. has no problem if a sponsor's name is used as a suffix. The said newspaper report further quotes the president of C.A.B. as having allegedly stated as follows: - "Many cricket stadiums have a sponsor. We have a sponsor for the Bengal team, we have an apparel sponsor......... The medical needs are also taken care of. Now we want to monetize Eden Gardens. The members agreed that it's very important to generate funds.......................... We have to move ahead. It is not a new thing................ Many cricket stadiums have a sponsor based name. The members agreed that it is very important to generate funds.................."
(3.) The petitioner contends that Eden Gardens is a land mark of Calcutta. It is a heritage venue of the city. It is a cricket ground which is 152 years old and changing the name of the ground by adding the sponsor's name either as a prefix or suffix or in any other manner, would destroy the aura that is associated with the name Eden Gardens. Eden Gardens is an inseparable identity of the city of Calcutta and changing the name for monetary benefit would severely hurt the sentiments of the people of Calcutta.;