Bengaluru: In the interest of all stakeholders of Bangalore Turf Club, the high court on Monday felt that it is necessary to explore the possibility of an interim arrangement during the pendency of cases before it. The court asked the Advocate General to get instructions so that an interim arrangement could be worked out.
“Keeping in view that the racing season would be for a limited period, the possibility of holding the horse race during the current season on the supervision of a committee to be appointed specially for this purpose, is also a possibility which is required to be looked into,” the court said, directing the AG to inform the state government and to report back to court. The case has been adjourned to December 12.
The court was hearing a batch of petitions pertaining to renewal of licence to BTC. The petitions are filed by the race horse trainers, club employees, the club and others. One of the petitions stated that around 1,200 employees of the club have not been paid for the last two months as the club has stopped functioning. Another petition stated that the trainers have been out of work and compensation has not been paid to them.
The government had maintained that the renewal of licence has been delayed because of a CID inquiry in a case of administering drug to a racing horse. The racing came to a halt after the government allegedly decided not to renew the licences until its demand for increase in membership of the BTC is met.
