BTC votes to take legal recourse
Interestingly, the Karnataka Government’s move to shift race course has not just been an issue for the last 30 years. Even as early as 30s, the then Municipality had asked the club to shift from its existing premises. Originally, the race course area was called as Malenahalli. The Municipality had cited traffic congestion as the reason for its demand.
The Bangalore Turf Club signed a lease agreement sometime last year with the Government of Karnataka validating a 20-year back-dated lease which is due to expire at the end of this year. All these years, BTC did not sign the lease agreement but managed to run the show. However, the government issued a stern warning last year to sign the lease agreement on the dotted line. The chairman of the club signed the lease deed without any safe guards after clearance from the members of the club. The lease was not for future but only meant to validate the period for which the club operated without a lease. Barring an odd member, everyone was in favor of the club signing the lease deed as they did not want to be seen confronting the government. What was worse was that the club was a signing a death wish without a survival route.
Now the same members, led by the recalcitrant committee, voted for the club to fight the government by taking legal redress to stay at the same premises behind the expiry date of December 31, 2009 at an emergency meeting of the members of the club on Thursday. The members and the managing committee voted unanimously to approach the court and even celebrated the momentous decision by downing a few drinks! Many of those who attended the meeting perhaps have not understood the gravity of the situation. This meeting was a prelude to the Extra-ordinary General Body of the club which is called for July 27 where by a resolution, the members sought to request to the present chairman P V Shetty to step down, citing his inability to handle the crisis. Now what happens to that meeting now that the club has decided to approach the court for relief? More than 100 members have reportedly signed the memorandum which is faulty in its very wording as the poorly drafted resolution which was sought to be moved was not enforceable by its very own wording.
All these years, the Managing Committee of the club has not shown any vision for the future. Successive governments, since well before independence, have asked the club to relocate.. The club has resisted the move, not realizing that the future lay in building a brand new race course, free from all encumbrances. The existing land was becoming cramped due to road expansion, cutting into race course area. The need of the hour was to think of the future. That they made a historical blunder has now come to haunt the turf club whose short sightedness has not only hurt the club which is run by those who have no stake in racing but also those thousands of people whose livelihood is dependent on racing.
One is not sure at this point of time whether the club would be able to make Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to give some reprieve or the courts will bail out the club for the time being. Now that the club has decided to take on the government, the consequences on the sport may be grave.
At least at this point of time, the onus is on the club authorities to show some vision and plan ahead with a fresh new road map.
.
The Bangalore Turf Club signed a lease agreement sometime last year with the Government of Karnataka validating a 20-year back-dated lease which is due to expire at the end of this year. All these years, BTC did not sign the lease agreement but managed to run the show. However, the government issued a stern warning last year to sign the lease agreement on the dotted line. The chairman of the club signed the lease deed without any safe guards after clearance from the members of the club. The lease was not for future but only meant to validate the period for which the club operated without a lease. Barring an odd member, everyone was in favor of the club signing the lease deed as they did not want to be seen confronting the government. What was worse was that the club was a signing a death wish without a survival route.
Now the same members, led by the recalcitrant committee, voted for the club to fight the government by taking legal redress to stay at the same premises behind the expiry date of December 31, 2009 at an emergency meeting of the members of the club on Thursday. The members and the managing committee voted unanimously to approach the court and even celebrated the momentous decision by downing a few drinks! Many of those who attended the meeting perhaps have not understood the gravity of the situation. This meeting was a prelude to the Extra-ordinary General Body of the club which is called for July 27 where by a resolution, the members sought to request to the present chairman P V Shetty to step down, citing his inability to handle the crisis. Now what happens to that meeting now that the club has decided to approach the court for relief? More than 100 members have reportedly signed the memorandum which is faulty in its very wording as the poorly drafted resolution which was sought to be moved was not enforceable by its very own wording.
All these years, the Managing Committee of the club has not shown any vision for the future. Successive governments, since well before independence, have asked the club to relocate.. The club has resisted the move, not realizing that the future lay in building a brand new race course, free from all encumbrances. The existing land was becoming cramped due to road expansion, cutting into race course area. The need of the hour was to think of the future. That they made a historical blunder has now come to haunt the turf club whose short sightedness has not only hurt the club which is run by those who have no stake in racing but also those thousands of people whose livelihood is dependent on racing.
One is not sure at this point of time whether the club would be able to make Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to give some reprieve or the courts will bail out the club for the time being. Now that the club has decided to take on the government, the consequences on the sport may be grave.
At least at this point of time, the onus is on the club authorities to show some vision and plan ahead with a fresh new road map.
.
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