Nagpur club member who complained gets show-cause notice, alleges entry ban

A dispute has erupted over the management of the Eastern Sports Club in Nagpur. Some members have levelled serious allegations against the club's chief secretary and president, accusing them of arbitrary conduct, targeting the member who complained and not following the club's rules. The allegations have not been independently confirmed so far.

The members claim that after the complainant raised issues of alleged financial irregularities, delayed elections, cleanliness and fire safety, a show-cause notice was served on the member and entry to the club was stopped. The full picture will be clear only after the club management's side emerges.

According to the information available, a club member had complained to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other government departments about the alleged irregularities. It is alleged that a show-cause notice was then issued and the member was barred from coming to the club. The complainant's side says attempts are being made to pressure the member by levelling various charges. The member is said to be a reputed iron trader.

The question being raised is whether the action against the member was taken according to the club's rules or whether pressure is being put on the member to withdraw the complaint. The answer will come only from the relevant documents and the management's explanation.

There is also a dispute over elections. According to the complaining members, the club's bylaws provide for elections every two years, but elections have allegedly not been held for the past four years. They allege this raises questions about the functioning and accountability of the current office-bearers. A review of the bylaws, the records of the last election and the position of the current management has been called necessary to establish the reason for the delay and fix responsibility.

Members have also raised questions about money matters. It is alleged that lakhs of rupees were misappropriated at the club and that the management is trying to hide its alleged failures. However, no accounts documents, audit reports or other evidence confirming these allegations is available at present. An impartial examination of income and expenditure records and audit reports will therefore be important.

Questions have also been raised about activities on the club premises. The allegations are that gambling takes place in the card room, dance programmes are held during orchestra performances and a bar room is run. The members say it should be examined whether the necessary permissions have been obtained for these. It must be made clear that playing cards in a card room is not in itself proof of gambling, and the legality of a bar or entertainment programmes depends on licences, permissions and applicable rules.

There is also resentment over cleanliness. The complainants allege that there are heaps of filth at several places on the premises and that insects are present. It has been said that the civic body and the health department should inspect and check the standards.

On fire safety, the complainants claim the club does not have the required no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's fire department. According to them, a fire department team inspected the club two days ago and a notice was issued afterwards. Official confirmation of the actual position of the inspection and notice, the deficiencies recorded in it and the time limit given for compliance is still awaited.

The complainants' most serious allegation is that after the complaint to government departments, the member was served a notice and barred from the club so that the complaint would be withdrawn. This allegation, too, has not been independently confirmed. It is also unclear on what grounds the notice was issued and what basis the management has given for stopping the member's entry.

Meanwhile, some members are preparing to complain against the club management before the Charity Commissioner. The complaint may seek an inquiry into the election process, the alleged financial irregularities and the management's functioning. Once a formal complaint is filed, the authority concerned may consider it on the basis of documents and the arguments of both sides.

For now, the views of the club's president and chief secretary are yet to emerge. It remains to be seen what steps the departments concerned take and what action follows on the demands of the complaining members.