Administration mulls imposing penalty on Chandigarh Club

After carrying out a demolition drive on November 25, the UT Administration is mulling over imposing a penalty on the Chandigarh Club and recovering dues for carrying out commercial activities.

According to officials, six acres were allotted to the club on a leasehold basis, but it encroached upon five acres of government land and gave it to M/s Commando Caterers Pvt Ltd. The officials said the caterer was carrying out commercial activities on the land encroached upon by the club for the past nearly two decades. Apart from recovering the dues, penalty would also be imposed on the club, the officials said, and added that the department concerned had been asked to calculate the amount.

During the demolition drive, several illegal structures, including a kitchen and a toilet constructed beyond the zoning line and extension of the building on the right side and a passage to the kitchen, were removed.

Following a petition filed by M/s Commando Caterers against the demolition of the alleged unauthorised construction by the UT Administration, the Supreme Court stayed further action at the club and directed that both parties shall maintain status quo — neither further demolition shall be carried out nor the petitioner shall raise any construction at the site. The apex court further ordered the petitioner to not utilise the existing allegedly illegal structure for any commercial purposes till appropriate orders are passed by the appellate authority.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had on November 21 dismissed a writ petition filed by M/s Commando Caterers against the UT Administration’s order dated November 14 directing removal and dismantling of alleged building violations at the club.