The Supreme Court rejects the plea of the Mumbai Cricket Association and the Maharashtra Cricket Association against the Bombay High Court order to shift IPL matches out of the drought-hit state. So Maharashtra will be off-limits for IPL matches in May. The Supreme Court gave its nod to an earlier verdict that said 13 matches must be moved out of the state which is dealing with the worst drought in several decades.

The plea was mentioned before a bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, which listed the matter for hearing on April 25.

The cricket association, in its plea, said treated sewage water would be used for its pitches and not potable water.

The Bombay high court had, on April 13, ordered shifting of all IPL matches scheduled in Maharashtra after April 30 to another state in view of severe drought conditions in the state.

As per the high court's order, 13 matches, including the final in Mumbai, scheduled for May 29, cannot be held in Maharashtra.

The high court's direction came despite an assurance by the Board of Control for Cricket in India that IPL franchises of Mumbai and Pune had agreed to contribute Rs five crore to the Chief Minister's drought relief fund.