Why no EGMs for constructive purposes?
The Bangalore Turf Club members have sought two Extraordinary General Body Meetings in the last two years but both have not been for the purpose of doing something good for the sport. The first EGM resulted in the removal of the then Chairman P V Shetty who members perceived to be hostile to club’s interests and the second was gone through on Monday, to lay fresh guidelines for the Managing Committee and fixed a limit as to how much money they can spend without the consent of the EGM.
The EGM was ostensibly called because the Managing Committee was in the process of upgrading the computer system. Some of the members felt that such an upgrade was not needed and the whole process was being pushed through because of the benefits accursing to a few by going through with the deal. The Chairman of the Club Kumaraswamy in the meanwhile had written to the club members that the Managing Committee was dropping its move to upgrade the computer system till the BTC matter in Supreme Court regarding eviction from the existing premises was decided. The Supreme Court was to take up the issue on July 19 but the date has been put off indefinitely as no fresh date has been announced.
The EGM on Monday passed a resolution restricting the powers of the Managing Committee to not more than Rs 2 crores. The upgrading of computerisation was dropped till Supreme Court decides on the issue of BTC’s appeal against High Court order, asking them to evict from the existing premises. The BTC consists of about 350 members as vacancies keep happening every year due to death of members and out of them, 100 are active members. If half of them gang up, anything can be stalled. Or for that matter, good also cam come out of that if these members think positively. Interestingly, the EGM resolution is a clear indication of the fact that they have no confidence in the people who they elect to the managing committee! Surely sad state of affairs indeed! In future we may have a situation where the EGM directly governs all matter because the Managing Committee comprises people of dubious credentials. This is what the EGM has sought to convey.
It is good that BTC members are so particular about the coffers of the club. Why are the same members not showing any concern about doing something good for the sport which is under threat because of the club losing the case in the High Court against the State Government? Why have the members not called for an EGM to discuss the issue? Why don’t the club members move a resolution to buy at least some acres of land to provide training and stabling facilities for two-year olds which is hurting the sport year after year? Why has an EGM not been called to negotiate with the government or with a private party to obtain a large chunk of land for building a new race course to ensure the future of the sport? Why these things don’t interest the members? Why are their energies only negative?
Unfortunately the ``active’’ group among members have not directed their energies at ensuring a future for the sport. A similar EGM resolution was what prevented the club from signing the land lease at Chikkajala with the government which at least would have ensured a moral obligation on the part of the government to provide an alternate land in the event of the tank bend allotment were to be turned down by courts. In the event, they did not sign the deal but in the court the club changed its stand and it was not averse to getting the Chikkajala land. The contradiction did not help matters as the court ruled that the said land cannot be allotted for racing activities. With hardly any land available around Bangalore and the club having hostile equation with the government, getting land on lease from the government has almost become impossibility.
The turf club has been resisting moves to shift despite offer of good land in the past three decades. Now with increasing pressure and crumbling infrastructure, BTC has reached a dead end. Everyone including the professionals feel that it is time BTC planned its future and worked towards its future. The status quo ordered from the government does not permit the club to improve its facilities while that imposed by the EGM restricts its activity from event from taking up major repairs to the stables which are in dilapidated state.
Will the members of the club call for an EGM to discuss the future of BTC vis-à-vis the court case and look for alternatives or only restrict their energies to stop one activity or the other? The racing enthusiasts, who have a stake in racing, beg for an answer.
The EGM was ostensibly called because the Managing Committee was in the process of upgrading the computer system. Some of the members felt that such an upgrade was not needed and the whole process was being pushed through because of the benefits accursing to a few by going through with the deal. The Chairman of the Club Kumaraswamy in the meanwhile had written to the club members that the Managing Committee was dropping its move to upgrade the computer system till the BTC matter in Supreme Court regarding eviction from the existing premises was decided. The Supreme Court was to take up the issue on July 19 but the date has been put off indefinitely as no fresh date has been announced.
The EGM on Monday passed a resolution restricting the powers of the Managing Committee to not more than Rs 2 crores. The upgrading of computerisation was dropped till Supreme Court decides on the issue of BTC’s appeal against High Court order, asking them to evict from the existing premises. The BTC consists of about 350 members as vacancies keep happening every year due to death of members and out of them, 100 are active members. If half of them gang up, anything can be stalled. Or for that matter, good also cam come out of that if these members think positively. Interestingly, the EGM resolution is a clear indication of the fact that they have no confidence in the people who they elect to the managing committee! Surely sad state of affairs indeed! In future we may have a situation where the EGM directly governs all matter because the Managing Committee comprises people of dubious credentials. This is what the EGM has sought to convey.
It is good that BTC members are so particular about the coffers of the club. Why are the same members not showing any concern about doing something good for the sport which is under threat because of the club losing the case in the High Court against the State Government? Why have the members not called for an EGM to discuss the issue? Why don’t the club members move a resolution to buy at least some acres of land to provide training and stabling facilities for two-year olds which is hurting the sport year after year? Why has an EGM not been called to negotiate with the government or with a private party to obtain a large chunk of land for building a new race course to ensure the future of the sport? Why these things don’t interest the members? Why are their energies only negative?
Unfortunately the ``active’’ group among members have not directed their energies at ensuring a future for the sport. A similar EGM resolution was what prevented the club from signing the land lease at Chikkajala with the government which at least would have ensured a moral obligation on the part of the government to provide an alternate land in the event of the tank bend allotment were to be turned down by courts. In the event, they did not sign the deal but in the court the club changed its stand and it was not averse to getting the Chikkajala land. The contradiction did not help matters as the court ruled that the said land cannot be allotted for racing activities. With hardly any land available around Bangalore and the club having hostile equation with the government, getting land on lease from the government has almost become impossibility.
The turf club has been resisting moves to shift despite offer of good land in the past three decades. Now with increasing pressure and crumbling infrastructure, BTC has reached a dead end. Everyone including the professionals feel that it is time BTC planned its future and worked towards its future. The status quo ordered from the government does not permit the club to improve its facilities while that imposed by the EGM restricts its activity from event from taking up major repairs to the stables which are in dilapidated state.
Will the members of the club call for an EGM to discuss the future of BTC vis-à-vis the court case and look for alternatives or only restrict their energies to stop one activity or the other? The racing enthusiasts, who have a stake in racing, beg for an answer.
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