All amount paid, no dues, clarifies Chandigarh Club

The Chandigarh Club today said there were no outstanding dues to the Chandigarh Administration and the full amount of Rs 2.96 crore had already been paid.

The assertion came in response to a plea filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court by a retired army officer and permanent voting member of the Chandigarh Club.

Among other things, member Anil Kabotra had submitted in his plea that the club management had not deposited the lease money due to the government, though the amount was collected from the members.

He had added that the annual report prepared by the club “duly depicted a demand of approximately Rs 2.96 crore as on December 31, 2023, by the Estate Office”.

Club president Sandeep Sahni said: “As on date, no dues are pending towards the Chandigarh Administration and the entire amount has been paid to the administration.” Referring to the contentions regarding discounted membership, Sahni said the club was having a robust system of control and processes. “Memberships are granted only after a thorough verification of all documents and receipt of payments,” he said.

The management added the club “conducts a concurrent audit... However, in case of any anomaly, the recoveries from the members concerned shall be done”. Kabotra, in his plea yet to come up for hearing, had added unauthorised and discounted memberships were being given to people by showing them as relatives of the existing club members, “despite the fact that such new members are not even remotely connected to the existing members”. The club elections are scheduled to be held on November 16.