SC stays high court order banning non-sport activities at golf club

JAIPUR: The Rambagh Golf Club and Polo Club got a temporary relief on Thursday after the Supreme Court stayed the Rajasthan High Court order banning all activities other than sports at the clubs.
On December 5, the Rajasthan HC had also asked the excise commissioner to cancel bar licences of Rambagh Golf Club and Polo Club. The court also banned the entry of members to the clubs after 8pm.For Polo Club, the court also ordered that the generators and the stable be immediately removed.
Rajiv Gandhi, the club's secretary said, "We have not received a copy of the apex court as yet. However, we have been informed that the apex court has put a stay on the high court order."
Petitioner Yogesh Yadav also said, "The SC has directed us to file a reply and stay has been given till the next hearing."
Earlier, acting Chief Justice Sunil Ambawani and Justice VS Siradhana had issued the order on a petition filed against non-sporting activities being carried out at Rambagh Golf Club and Polo Club which are parts of the Central Park, a public place.
Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) and Urban Development and Housing (UDH) department had also been directed to sign an MoU with the club within two months (from December 5). The club administration has constructed a big club house on the golf course premises.
The petitioner had pointed out that nearly 256 bigha of public land has been utilized by the club authority. There is no transparency maintained by the club in issuing membership. The entire government land is 322 bigha, out of which Central Park has been developed on 66 bigha. Most land is under the club's possession with no government control.
The court also pulled up JDA for its failure to enforce the conditions for mutual agreement entered with the golf club in 2000. The court observed that a public place has been converted into a place of pleasure for a few city elite and JDA has become a willing partner.
Earlier, the court had opened the parking area reserved for the members of the club for the public on the same petition.