BMC Proposes Cancelling NSCI Worli Lease Over Non-Sporting Events
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has proposed the cancellation of the National Sports Club of India’s (NSCI) lease for its prime premises in Worli, alleging that the club violated contractual conditions by repeatedly hosting non-sporting events without prior municipal permission.
The civic body issued a show-cause notice dated August 17, 2026, to the NSCI secretary, citing a breach of Condition No. 15 under the lease agreement dated May 11, 1993. The specific clause mandates that the club obtain prior authorization from the Municipal Commissioner before using the stadium premises for any activities other than sports.
According to the BMC notice, records submitted by NSCI showed that 207 events were held on the premises between 2020 and 2025. Of these, 194 events—accounting for approximately 93.71 per cent—were non-sporting functions. The civic body had previously issued a show-cause notice regarding these activities on October 20, 2025, but deemed the explanation submitted by NSCI on November 6, 2025, to be unsatisfactory.
The municipal corporation also scrutinized more recent bookings. Between April 29 and July 29, 2026, the club reported holding 68 events across its Stadium, Palace Hall, and Maharaja Hall. The BMC stated that 66 of those events, or roughly 97.05 per cent, were non-sporting functions conducted without the required civic approvals.
The move has led to concern among club members, who are seeking clarity from the management regarding the lease violations and the handling of the dispute. Questions have been raised regarding the club's legal and financial standing, whether independent legal counsel was consulted, and who has been designated to represent NSCI before the municipal authorities.
Hariom Gupta, an NSCI member and lawyer, questioned why the matter had escalated to a proposed lease cancellation and sought information on the management’s official response to the civic body.
The NSCI management is required to reply to the latest show-cause notice within the stipulated timeframe, detailing how it plans to resolve the alleged breaches and secure the continuation of its lease.
