Ambala, 14 November (R. Singh):- Municipal Council officials have been held guilty of taking possession of the Ambala Club premises in the Cantonment area and disregarding earlier court orders. The court of Civil Judge (Junior Division) Pawandeep Kaur sentenced the officials to two months’ civil imprisonment and ordered the immediate restoration of vacant and physical possession of the club premises. The court declared the locks installed on the main building and the entrance gate of the premises illegal, directing that they be broken and returned to the club. The officials held guilty include the Administrator of Ambala Sadar Municipal Council, then SDM and Estate Officer Subhash Sehag (HCS), Assistant Estate Officer and Executive Officer Vinod Nehra, and the then Municipal Council Secretary Rajesh Kumar.
The case dates back to 1980, when Ambala Club filed a civil suit against the Municipal Council. In its judgment dated August 1, 1981, the court had restrained the municipal authorities from evicting the club without following the due legal procedure.
Accepting the contempt petition filed by Ambala Club, the court adopted a strict stance against the municipal administration. In its order, the court sentenced the then SDM, the then Executive Officer and the then Secretary to two months’ civil imprisonment for wilfully disobeying court orders. It directed that vacant and physical possession of 0.69 acres of land falling under Survey Nos. 184 and 184-A be restored to Ambala Club. It further ordered that an inventory be prepared of all belongings, records and other properties lying within the club premises and that these be handed back. The court also directed the concerned Station House Officer (SHO) to take necessary action to remove the illegal locks installed on the club premises and ensure that no obstruction or interference occurred during the handover.
Club President Rajiv Syal appeared as a witness on behalf of the club and submitted copies of the club resolution passed on August 3, 2023, court judgments of 1981 and 1984, municipal notices and other documents as evidence.
After examining all the facts and evidence, the court allowed the contempt petition on November 2, 2026, and directed that physical possession of the land, along with the belongings and records, be restored to the club, with police protection ensured during the handover. The court also sentenced former SDM Subhash Sehag, former Executive Officer Vinod Nehra and former Secretary Rajesh Kumar to two months’ civil imprisonment and directed them to pay litigation costs.
Municipal Council lawyer Puneet Sarpal said that a judgment in their favour had been delivered in this matter in 2023. He said they had not yet received a certified copy of the judgment and would be able to comment only after obtaining it. According to court records, Ambala Club had filed a civil suit against the municipal administration in 1980-81. On August 31, 1981, the court ruled in favour of the club and ordered that it not be evicted from the land. Subsequently, the appeal was dismissed on February 1, 1984. The club stated that the disputed land had been granted by the Government of India in 1902 through a registered lease deed.
The club informed the court that on July 24, 2020, the municipal administration issued a notice asking it to vacate the premises, to which the club replied through its lawyer on July 30, 2020. Thereafter, on August 18, 2020, the club filed an execution petition seeking implementation of the earlier court judgment. According to the petition, on August 25, 2020, municipal officials arrived at the club premises accompanied by more than 50 police personnel. It was alleged that the watchman was removed, the main building and gate were locked, and the premises were sealed. No inventory of the articles and important documents inside the club was prepared.
