RWITC withdraws petition vs Army - by Swati Deshpande TNN
Posted on - 27 Mar 2012
RWITC withdraws petition vs Army
By Swati Deshpande TNN
Mumbai: The Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) withdrew its petition before the Bombay high court against the Army in a dispute over the Pune racecourse.
At a hearing, on Monday, when both sides were expected to inform the bench of Justices DD Sinha and V K Tahilramani about whether they had resolved their differences, they ended up disagreeing some more. Senior counsel Yusuf Muchala who appeared for the Army said the club must abide by the lease of 1907 as well as the memorandum of understanding. But RWITC counsel Janak Dwarkadas said it must be “both” who abide by it and in that was not to be the case, then the club would unconditionally withdraw its writ. A line up of Army officers including Brigadiers in their dark olive-green uniforms almost seemed surprised as the matter ended in minutes, as the club pulled out of the legal battle. Their lawyer assured them outside that the club cannot come again to the HC to agitate the same cause.
The tussle was over about 115 acres of Army Parade ground of which a portion was leased to RWITC over a century ago. The club claims it was leased 111 acres but the Army says it is only 18 acres which was leased to them as the race track.
The club seemed to be claiming, what was inside the racing track too, and had begun digging up part and laying pipes which the Army said it had to prevent by pitching its own tent to protect its ground. The club objected to a helipad on the ground as it frightens horses.
The RWITC had dragged the Army to court for “not allowing horses to train” inside the racecourse’s central parade ground.
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