Today i.e., on 19.02.2024, a Division Bench consisting of Hon’ble Mr.Justice R.Mahadevan and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mohammed Shaffiq, disposed of a batch of writ petitions relating to conduct of Formula 4 race scheduled to be held at Island grounds at Chennai.Having regard to the fact that the State has taken a policy decision toconduct the Formula 4 Race to encourage and promote the sport, create betteropportunities for the interested persons in sporting activity of racing, hone the skills of existing young talent in the State in order to represent itself the international arena in the field of racing, while organising any event of an international character, and importantly, considering the fact that the State has already spent a huge sum of Rs.42 crores and made enormous efforts including laying new roads, the Bench is not in favour of either stalling the Race or in any way preventing the State from

Today i.e., on 19.02.2024, a Division Bench consisting of Hon’ble Mr.Justice R.Mahadevan and Hon’ble Mr. Justice Mohammed Shaffiq, disposed of a batch of writ petitions relating to conduct of Formula 4 race scheduled to be held at Island grounds at Chennai.
Having regard to the fact that the State has taken a policy decision to
conduct the Formula 4 Race to encourage and promote the sport, create better
opportunities for the interested persons in sporting activity of racing, hone the skills of existing young talent in the State in order to represent itself the international arena in the field of racing, while organising any event of an international character, and importantly, considering the fact that the State has already spent a huge sum of Rs.42 crores and made enormous efforts including laying new roads, the Bench is not in favour of either stalling the Race or in any way preventing the State from
implementing its policy decision, and is inclined to permit them to proceed further,
however, subject to certain terms.
(i) The Formula 4 Race proposed to be conducted in the Chennai Racing Circuit is permitted to be held on the dates to be decided by the State Government in consultation with the stakeholders.
(ii) The State Government shall ensure that the street race in the 3.7 km as stipulated, shall be carried on, with highest degree of public safety and avoiding inconvenience to the public, especially the in-patients of the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Madras Medical College, and Omandurar Government Multi-speciality Hospital. This can be ensured by installing necessary silencing equipment like sound silence panels/acoustic sound panel for noise control in the hospitals during the time of the racing events.
(iii) The RPPL shall ensure that all public viewers will be provided
with necessary protective gear for their safety during the Race.
(iv) The RPPL shall reimburse the expenditure made by the State Government (i.e.) Rs.42 crores from the public exchequer, to them, prior to the conduct of the event.
(v) The State Government must ensure that RPPL or anyone should
deposit in advance (prior to next year and the upcoming third year’s event) the stipulated expenditure of Rs.15 crores for the upcoming two years for holding the Street Circuit in Chennai.
(vi) The RPPL cannot expect anything more than facilitation as well
as arrangements along with co-ordination and co-operation of the State authorities, and the expenditure for the event will have to be completely borne out only by the RPPL.
(vii) In future, the State is expected to take upon itself the
responsibility of conducting of such event in furtherance of its policy to encourage the racing sport and seek the support of private bodies having experience and expertise in the field. This will ensure fairness and also dispel any doubt as to mala fides in distribution of the State largesse.
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