Panel against membership for MLAs, MPs in pvt clubs

Ruling out the demand for honorary membership to MPs and MLAs in private clubs, the head of House Committee of the Karnataka Legislature on Clubs, N A Harris, on Wednesday said there is no such proposal before the panel.

 The panel will not recommend membership to elected representatives in private clubs, he told reporters here. The primary job of the committee is to suggest how all clubs could be governed under a uniform law, he said.

The panel visited various clubs in the national capital, including the India International Centre and Constitution Club, and studied its functioning.

As clubs across Karnataka were functioning under various laws, the panel will suggest the Assembly about bringing a new law so that all clubs could be governed under it, he said.

As private clubs get several benefits from the government, including land and other infrastructure, there is a need to bring a new law for regulating their functioning, he said.

Harris also said that the panel will recommend removal of dress code prevailing in some clubs in Bengaluru which bars entry to people wearing dhotis and chappals. Decent clothing should be the criteria for entry into clubs rather than strict dress code, he said. He said all clubs, whether in Bengaluru or in district or taluk headquarters, should be governed under one law.

The committee will make its recommendation on action to be taken against the club management in the event of illegal construction in their premises and for collecting hefty fee from members.