Hold golf proficiency test of club member in three months: Panel

Chandigarh, July 1

In one of the significant judgments, the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission here has directed the Chandigarh Golf Club to conduct a golf proficiency test of Jaskirat Singh Dullat, a resident of Mani Majra, and thereafter assess his eligibility for permanent membership as per the applicable rules/regulations within a period of three months.

Dullat, in a complaint filed to the commission, said he was granted ‘student membership’ in 2001, which was terminated in 2007 as he fulfilled the criteria to become a Green Card Member. He was playing at a handicap of less than six and accordingly, was issued Green Card. He said he was entitled to the permanent membership of the club, including the voting rights, as per Clause 10 of the bylaws 2020, as he was playing at a handicap of 7 which was much less than the prescribed requirement in Clause 10.

He said vide a letter dated November 16, 2017, he was asked to be present at the Chandigarh Golf Club for taking the golf proficiency test as he had already figured in the seniority roll and was eligible for permanent membership. However, he could not take the test and wrote an e-mail to the club on November 24, 2017, requesting for a new date for the test.

Despite his repeated requests, he was not being granted the permanent membership of the club on one lame excuse or another. He also submitted a detailed representation dated March 22, 2019, in this regard. Alleging the aforesaid acts of omission and commission on the part of the opposite party amount to deficiency in service and unfair trade practices, he had filed the complaint, said Dullat.

The commission said despite due service through Speed Post, the opposite party (Golf Club) failed to appear before it and as a result, it was ordered to be proceeded against ex parte vide order dated February 18, 2022.

“Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the present case and the principles of natural justice, we are of the considered view that the complainant should have been awarded an opportunity for his Golf Proficiency Test by the opposite party,” says the Commission in its order.

What commission has observed

“Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the present case and the principles of natural justice, we are of the considered view that the complainant should have been awarded an opportunity for his Golf Proficiency Test by the opposite party,” says the Commission in its order.