Court relief for Gallops

The small causes court held on July 21, 2010 that Gallops, the restaurant at the Mahalaxmi Race Course, is a sub-tenant of the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC). It also directed that the restaurant should be allowed to operate unhindered and remain open to all, not only to members of the Club, reported The Times of India (TOI) on July 22, 2010. Nor can the Club prevent visitors to the restaurant from parking their vehicles on the premises, the court held.

The restaurant’s owners, BJR’s, had refused to pay the annual royalty of Rs 3.25 crore to the Club last year. The RWITC in turn terminated its 10-year contract for operating the restaurant and made it difficult for non-members to enjoy its amenities by revoking parking facilities and levying a guest charge, reported Mumbai Mirror (MM) on July 22, 2010. BJR’s subsequently filed a tenancy claim in the court.

Gallops at Mahalaxmi Race Course to operate unhindered and remain open to all

At that time the court had ordered a status quo on entry, exit and the electricity connection of the restaurant, reported TOI on July 22. Gallops, which has occupied the premises for nearly two decades is popular with celebrities and people from all walks of life, claim its owners, and the Club has no say in its management or running. The Club argued that it had terminated its agreement with the restaurant, which had been only for conducting business and to run the eatery for the Club and its members.

When MM asked RWITC chairman Vivek Jain to confirm whether BJR’s had won their tenancy claim he informed the reporter that he had not seen the court’s order but was aware that the restaurant had got partial relief and that the restrictions imposed on Gallops would have to go. "The Club will surely appeal against this verdict,” Jain told MM.