Eightyfive years after the Gurgaon Club was established, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld orders of its eviction from “public premises”, holding that it had become “an unauthorised occupant”.
At the same time, Justice Paramjeet Singh directed the Haryana Government or the Zila Parishad not to change the nature of club activities. Rather, it would set up a club under its control within four months; and the existing members would, as matter of right, be included in the members’ list.
The development is significant as the club come into existence in 1930; and government officials, judicial officers, senior advocates and “respectable persons of Gurgaon city” were enrolled as its members.
The directions came on a petition filed by the Gurgaon Club against the Gurgaon Zila Parishad and other respondents. Justice Paramjeet Singh observed that the club, admittedly, was earlier on District Board land, which now vested in the Zila Parishad after the board’s abolition.
The Gurgaon Collector, vide an order dated September 26, 2011, ordered the petitioner’s eviction from the disputed land on the ground of non-payment of the rent since September 10, 1999. Its appeal against the order was dismissed by the Gurgaon Division Commissioner on November 5, 2014.
Justice Paramjeet Singh added: “It appears that the petitioner has occupied the premises illegally, not in pursuance of extension of the term of alleged lease, express or implied, granted by the competent authority…. The petitioner has become an unauthorised occupant of the public premises….”
“The planning and goals of the club shall be set up keeping in view all sections of society, including the low-income group…. It is made clear that every section of society would be permitted to be members of the club and a reasonable fee structure, even within the reach of the poorest sections of society, shall be fixed…”Justice Paramjeet Singh added.
At the same time, Justice Paramjeet Singh directed the Haryana Government or the Zila Parishad not to change the nature of club activities. Rather, it would set up a club under its control within four months; and the existing members would, as matter of right, be included in the members’ list.
The development is significant as the club come into existence in 1930; and government officials, judicial officers, senior advocates and “respectable persons of Gurgaon city” were enrolled as its members.
The directions came on a petition filed by the Gurgaon Club against the Gurgaon Zila Parishad and other respondents. Justice Paramjeet Singh observed that the club, admittedly, was earlier on District Board land, which now vested in the Zila Parishad after the board’s abolition.
The Gurgaon Collector, vide an order dated September 26, 2011, ordered the petitioner’s eviction from the disputed land on the ground of non-payment of the rent since September 10, 1999. Its appeal against the order was dismissed by the Gurgaon Division Commissioner on November 5, 2014.
Justice Paramjeet Singh added: “It appears that the petitioner has occupied the premises illegally, not in pursuance of extension of the term of alleged lease, express or implied, granted by the competent authority…. The petitioner has become an unauthorised occupant of the public premises….”
“The planning and goals of the club shall be set up keeping in view all sections of society, including the low-income group…. It is made clear that every section of society would be permitted to be members of the club and a reasonable fee structure, even within the reach of the poorest sections of society, shall be fixed…”Justice Paramjeet Singh added.
