Deccan Chargers out of IPL, SC refuses to stay its termination

The cash-strapped Deccan Chargers are out from the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Supreme Court today refusing to stay termination of the Hyderabad team by the Indian cricket board from the cash-rich IPL and paving the way for filling its slot by fresh auction on October 25.

The apex court declined to interfere with yesterday's Bombay High Court decision which had set aside the status quo order passed by an arbitrator on cessation of its membership in the league.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir dismissed the plea of Deccan Chronicles Holdings Limited (DCHL), promoter of Deccan Chargers, to extend the time till October 25 for furnishing the bank guarantee of Rs 100 crore.

It accepted the submission of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the termination of contract between the Deccan Chargers and the Board has come to effect from October 12, the day the High Court had held that the arbitrator had no jurisdiction to grant status quo and declined to grant extension of time for furnishing the bank guarantee.

"The position today stands that the agreement between Deccan Chargers and BCCI is terminated and the effect of extension of time to deposit the bank guarantee will amount to forcing the contract," the bench, also comprising justices S S Nijjar and J Chelameswar, said.

"It has been pointed out by the BCCI about the fact of termination of contract which is effective from October 12. In such circumstance we are not inclined to entertain the Special Leave Petition (SLP)," the bench said but added that its order will not affect the arbitration proceedings between the Deccan Chargers and the BCCI.

DCHL, which had hurriedly moved the appeal against the High Court order, had argued through senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi that it should be given a chance to furnish the bank guarantee by October 25 though it had failed in the earlier opportunity.

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