Petition seeks cancellation of Golf Range lease deed

The Court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division), Chandigarh, has issued notices to the Chandigarh Golf Association (CGA) and senior officers of the Chandigarh Administration on a petition seeking cancellation of the lease/licence deed of the CGA Golf Range, Sector 6.

Notices have been issued to CGA president RK Pachnanda, as well as to the UT Finance Secretary, Secretary Estates, Secretary Sports, Deputy Commissioner and six other respondents. The directions came on a suit filed by Harinder Pal Singh, resident of Sector 44, Chandigarh.

The court has sought replies from all respondents on January 15, 2026.

In his suit, the plaintiff has levelled allegations regarding illegal subletting besides non-deposit of profits. He has sought a declaration that alleged subletting arrangements, running of various commercial activities, grant of excise licence despite expiry of the licence deed, and non-deposit of 25% share of profits are all illegal, being in violation of the terms of allotment and the licence deed executed between the UT Administration and the CGA.

He has further sought mandatory injunction directing the authorities to take remedial action, including cancellation of the licence deed and eviction of contesting respondents; and permanent injunction restraining the CGA and other private respondents from continuing the impugned activities, alienating, subletting or parting with possession of any portion of the licenced land.

The petition states that on October 4, 1999, the Administration allotted 6.877 acres, adjoining Sukhna Lake and the CGA Golf Course, to the Chandigarh Golf Association for the purpose of running a golf driving range. The intent was to provide an affordable public facility to promote golf and nurture new talent at competitive rates.

Key conditions of the allotment and governing agreements included user charges to be fixed with approval of the UT Sports Department, mandatory representation of the Sports Secretary and two Sports Department nominees on the managing committee with veto powers. The conditions also included appointment of a chartered accountant by the Sports Department, deposit of 25% of profits with the department, no construction without approvals from Sports Department, Chief Architect and Planning Department.

‘Site falls inside Sukhna catchment area’

An additional 2.34 acres were allotted to CGA in 2010. The plaintiff alleges that the site falls inside the Sukhna Lake catchment area, and is less than 100 metres from the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining forest. Consequently, any construction in this region falls within the notified Eco-Sensitive Zone and is therefore illegal. He alleged that the structures have obstructed the natural flow of water in Sukhna choe and the natural bank of the choe has been altered. This has led to environmental and ecological damage that may be irreversible.

The petition highlights that the last licence deed was executed on March 16, 2021, which contains an explicit bar on subletting or parting with possession of the land or any portion thereof. This restriction, the petitioner argues, was intended to ensure that the facility is used primarily by golfers, prevent commercial exploitation and avoid undue escalation of service prices.

However, the petitioner alleges that despite these conditions, CGA has turned into a commercial revenue-generating platform, numerous entities are allegedly functioning as tenants or commercial operators. The CGA has collected approximately Rs 150 crore over 27 years through various charges, rentals and share-of-profit arrangements. The petitioner contends that these activities frustrate the very purpose of the allotment and amount to misuse of public land.

The plaintiff has requested the court to cancel the CGA licence deed and direct eviction of contesting respondents and restrain all parties from further commercial use, alienation or subletting of the Golf Range land.