Delhi Golf Club under RTI scanner

September 3, 2013. The Delhi Golf Club is under RTI Scanner for paying meager amount lease rent compared to its huge property value. The club spread on land valued at over Rs 46,000 crore, is paying a “petty” lease of Rs 5.82 lakh per year to the government, which is indirect financing from the exchequer and makes it answerable to the public under the RTI Act, the CIC has held.

Information Commissioner M L Sharma used circle rates of Delhi government to arrive at the conclusion that 179 acres of land in posh South Delhi is valuable and the meager amount paid by the club so far flouts the enhanced property rate norms.

[highlight] Sharma calculated that 179 acres of “A” locality land with minimum rate of 6.45 lakh per square meter comes to about Rs 46,722 crore at minimum circle rate. [/highlight]

“The land roughly valued at Rs 46,722 crore has been leased out to DGC for a petty consideration of Rs 5.82 lakh per annum. In my opinion, it is a clear case of indirect financing of DGC by the central government under section 2(h)(d)(i) of the RTI Act. I, therefore, hold DGC to be a public authority under the RTI Act,” Sharma said.

Sharma said there was overwhelming disproportion between the market value of the land and rental and license fee being paid by the club.

Sharma calculated that 179 acres of “A” locality land with minimum rate of 6.45 lakh per square meter comes to about Rs 46,722 crore at minimum circle rate.

“Even if allowance is made for the fact that land in question is not being used for residential purposes and is being used for the game of golf, the fact remains that there is overwhelming disproportion between the market value of the land and rental/license fee being paid by DGC to the central government,” Sharma said.