Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission of Chandigarh directed the Chandigarh Lake Sports Complex and Sports Council to restore life membership of a UT resident which had been cancelled due to alleged non-payment of dues.
The complainant Captain MP Singh contended that he had paid lifetime membership fee of ₹10,000 before the year 2000 to avail the facilities provided by the Club. He stated that he was not supposed to pay any other maintenance or subscription to the Club in lieu of the membership as per the rules. Later, title of the club was changed from Lake Club to Chandigarh Lake Sports Complex on November 14, 2006. No formal intimation was made to the complainant about the same.
He stated that no demand was raised until 2016 by the club but in 2016, to his surprise, in the months of October 4 and December 15, Lake Club issued demand notices. On December 1, 2017, his membership was terminated. The complaint was filed alleging gross deficiency in service and unfair trade practices on part of the Club.
The Chandigarh Lake Sports Complex and Chandigarh Sports Council (Ops) in a joint reply denied that the complainant was supposed to pay any charges. They stated that the complainant paid 10,000 for one-time membership fee and even the life members have to pay maintenance charges.
The commission after hearing the plea, said that the life membership, as the title denotes, cannot be revoked.Sp, act of cancelling is wrong and illegal. So, commission directed to restore the membership of complainant with immediate effect.
If the Club has developed other infrastructure facilities for which members are charged, then the amount may be charged from the complainant as per the benchmark applicable.
However, no charges shall be demanded by the complainant for the period his life membership remained terminated till its date of restoration, directed the commission.
