The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and other respondents in a matter arising from a dispute between two registered societies over the use of an open ground near gate number 2 of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for Ramlila and Dussehra celebrations in 2023.
The Bench, comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale, directed the respondents to file their responses after hearing senior advocate K Parameshwar, who appeared for Shree Ram Dharmik Ramlila Samiti.
The petition challenges a judgment delivered by a division bench of the Delhi High Court on December 18, 2025, which upheld a single judge’s direction requiring the society to pay ₹92.29 lakh to SAI as booking charges for the use of the ground.
According to the plea filed by Shree Ram Dharmik Ramlila Samiti, the amount was calculated at ₹2.25 lakh per day plus taxes for 34 days, despite SAI’s approved tariff of ₹1.5 lakh per day for bookings exceeding 15 days.
The society had initially booked the venue for 34 days through the prescribed procedure but later reduced the period to 24 days. Dakshinii Delhi Dharmik Ramlila Samiti, the rival society, approached the Delhi High Court alleging that the initial long booking blocked the online portal and prevented it from applying for the same dates. It sought cancellation of the allotment and re-allocation of the venue to itself.
The single judge of the Delhi High Court did not cancel the booking, noting that it had been made in accordance with the procedure. However, the court found that Shree Ram Samiti had unfairly used the process by first reserving the venue for a longer period and then reducing the dates, thereby preventing another applicant from booking it. The court also criticised SAI for allowing the alteration of the booking period and granting a concession.
Consequently, the single judge directed SAI to recover charges from Shree Ram Samiti at ₹2.25 lakh per day plus GST for the original 34-day period. A division bench of the Delhi High Court upheld this direction on December 18, 2025, holding that SAI had failed to act fairly and transparently and that Dakshinii Samiti should have been given an opportunity to book the venue when the dates were changed.
In its appeal before the Supreme Court, Shree Ram Dharmik Ramlila Samiti contended that Dakshinii Samiti had sought only cancellation and re-allotment of the venue and had not prayed for the recovery of enhanced charges. The plea further argued that SAI’s tariff prescribed a rate of ₹1.5 lakh per day for bookings exceeding 15 days and that the High Court effectively rewrote this policy by applying the highest rate of ₹2.25 lakh per day.
It was also pointed out during the proceedings that Dakshinii Samiti had itself used the venue at concessional rates in previous years.
The matter is scheduled for next hearing on 26 November. The petition was filed through advocate Sukrit Seth.