Supreme Court to hear BTC's appeal on July 19
The Supreme Court has posted BTC’s Special Leave Petition for July 19 following the government of Karnataka pressing for an early hearing. It may be recalled that BTC had gone to High Court against cancellation of lease deed by the government and it had challenged the same in the court contending that the land rightfully belonged to them by way of grant for the exclusive purpose of running racing activities only. The High Court however rejected BTC’s contention and ordered the club to vacate its premises by September last year. The BTC approached Supreme Court last July with a Special Leave Petition. Suspense now rules till such time Supreme Court decides one way or the other.
The matter was partly heard by a division bench of the Supreme Court last year. Thereafter it was posted before the registry for scrutiny of documents. The matter dragged as the government and the turf club had been asked by the court to submit whatever supplementary documents that they wished to place before the court. The matter will now come up before the bench for disposal. The fate of racing in Bangalore thus hangs in balance as the sword of Damocles has been hanging over the turf club ever since it went on an ill-advised battle in the court without giving a serious thought to its repercussions.
The majority of legal opinion that the club had sought was against exploring the legal option but one of conciliatory approach with the government. The government too showed an inclination to help by offering the land at Chikkajala and Doddajala but following the Public Interest Litigation which many felt was inspired by several of the club’s mandarins, the High Court ruled against the grant of that land stating that it was a tank bund and the law prohibits converting such areas into commercial activity. The government also offered land at Doddasonehalli which was also rejected as unsuitable by the turf club. The land identified for the turf club is now being allotted to the National Cricket Academy.
The short-sighted policy of the club mandarins has resulted in racing facing a bleak future. The existing premises is cramped and under litigation. There is no other alternative venue for BTC to shift. The turf club resisted the attempt of successive government s to find them alternative land for well over two decades. Had the BTC accepted to shift, they could have been sitting pretty on a much better location and with no legal hassles.
The Managing Committee of the turf club is now busy in creating more hurdles in the smooth conduct of racing by taking some unreasonable decisions recently which is bound to hurt the prompt start of the Bangalore Summer Season on May 14. They have decided to stop the BTF and the credit given for veterinary treatment and feed supplements. The world economy runs on credit but BTC authorities, for reasons bet known to them, have decided to meddle with a system that has worked wonderfully well for over two decades. In the past, BTC used to give even subsidies for horses but they have now been done away with but the BTF facility is the fulcrum on which racing revolves. The BTC managing committee wants to bleed the sport especially at a time when they are engaged in a battle for survival with the government. Unfortunately, the majority of Managing Committee members have no stake in racing and are hell bent on causing disruption of racing.
In contrast, Hyderabad Race Club has been very pragmatic and is seriously considering shifting from the congested Malakpet to more spacious land at Gachibowli. The club is reportedly negotiating with the government for a bigger chunk of land and concessions which can help the club to build an ultra-modern race course.
Unfortunately, BTC cannot change its past because of which its future looks bleak. BTC seems to be caught in a time warp!
It’s astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
The blackness would hit and the void would be calling
Let’s do the time warp again…
Let’s do the time warp again!
The matter was partly heard by a division bench of the Supreme Court last year. Thereafter it was posted before the registry for scrutiny of documents. The matter dragged as the government and the turf club had been asked by the court to submit whatever supplementary documents that they wished to place before the court. The matter will now come up before the bench for disposal. The fate of racing in Bangalore thus hangs in balance as the sword of Damocles has been hanging over the turf club ever since it went on an ill-advised battle in the court without giving a serious thought to its repercussions.
The majority of legal opinion that the club had sought was against exploring the legal option but one of conciliatory approach with the government. The government too showed an inclination to help by offering the land at Chikkajala and Doddajala but following the Public Interest Litigation which many felt was inspired by several of the club’s mandarins, the High Court ruled against the grant of that land stating that it was a tank bund and the law prohibits converting such areas into commercial activity. The government also offered land at Doddasonehalli which was also rejected as unsuitable by the turf club. The land identified for the turf club is now being allotted to the National Cricket Academy.
The short-sighted policy of the club mandarins has resulted in racing facing a bleak future. The existing premises is cramped and under litigation. There is no other alternative venue for BTC to shift. The turf club resisted the attempt of successive government s to find them alternative land for well over two decades. Had the BTC accepted to shift, they could have been sitting pretty on a much better location and with no legal hassles.
The Managing Committee of the turf club is now busy in creating more hurdles in the smooth conduct of racing by taking some unreasonable decisions recently which is bound to hurt the prompt start of the Bangalore Summer Season on May 14. They have decided to stop the BTF and the credit given for veterinary treatment and feed supplements. The world economy runs on credit but BTC authorities, for reasons bet known to them, have decided to meddle with a system that has worked wonderfully well for over two decades. In the past, BTC used to give even subsidies for horses but they have now been done away with but the BTF facility is the fulcrum on which racing revolves. The BTC managing committee wants to bleed the sport especially at a time when they are engaged in a battle for survival with the government. Unfortunately, the majority of Managing Committee members have no stake in racing and are hell bent on causing disruption of racing.
In contrast, Hyderabad Race Club has been very pragmatic and is seriously considering shifting from the congested Malakpet to more spacious land at Gachibowli. The club is reportedly negotiating with the government for a bigger chunk of land and concessions which can help the club to build an ultra-modern race course.
Unfortunately, BTC cannot change its past because of which its future looks bleak. BTC seems to be caught in a time warp!
It’s astounding, time is fleeting
Madness takes its toll
The blackness would hit and the void would be calling
Let’s do the time warp again…
Let’s do the time warp again!
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