Maharashtra panel finds violation of lease terms by gymkhanas

MUMBAI: A Maharashtra govt committee formed in Feb to suggest ways to make Mumbai's gymkhanas and clubs more accessible to citizens has found several gymkhanas violated the conditions of their lease.

The panel, led by Konkan divisional commissioner Rubal Agarwal, met on Friday to review reports of inspections carried out at all gymkhanas and clubs on govt land in the city by revenue department officials and also gave a hearing to representatives of over a dozen gymkhanas.

The meeting is being seen as crucial in view of the ongoing Delhi Gymkhana Club controversy as colonial-era gymkhanas occupy prime public land in Mumbai.

The committee found many gymkhanas were hosting weddings and commercial events on their grounds for more than the allowed limit of 45 days a year and not creating an online portal to show bookings for weddings and days when grounds were out of bounds for sports.

The panel also found most gymkhanas and clubs had not given memberships to Maharashtra-based sports personalities who had played at the state, national and international level, a condition stipulated in the state govt's gymkhana lease policy of July 2025.

Some gymkhanas have not adhered to lease terms on service membership to be provided to senior officials.

Agarwal said the committee would meet again and submit its recommendations to the state revenue department next month.