Mumbai: BMC issued a fresh show-cause notice to National Sports Club of India (NSCI), warning that its lease over a prime plot at Worli could be cancelled for allegedly violating the terms of the lease agreement.The notice, issued by BMC joint municipal commissioner (improvements) Sanjog Kabre on Aug 17, states that NSCI conducted a large number of non-sporting programmes at its stadium and halls without obtaining prior permission from municipal commissioner, as mandated under the lease deed.BMC said the land at Plot Number 11, CS Number 4/47 (Part), Worli, was allotted to NSCI under a lease deed dated May 11, 1993. Condition 15 of the deed stipulates that if the stadium is proposed to be used for purposes other than sports activities, NSCI must obtain permission from municipal commissioner and pay the applicable premium.According to the show-cause notice, a copy of which is with TOI, NSCI had submitted details of 207 programmes held between 2020 and 2025. Of these, 194 programmes, or 93.71%, were non-sporting events, and BMC found that prior permission had not been obtained for them. NSCI has been given 15 days from the date of issue of the notice to submit a documentary explanation, failing which BMC has warned that further legal action will be initiated on the merits of the case.When contacted, a senior NSCI member said they had already met the civic authorities and were in talks with them to ensure that lease conditions aren’t violated in any way. “We have, however, conveyed to them that as many events get booked months in advance, it is not feasible to be taking permission for each and every event,” said the member.Senior BMC officials have, however, said the civic body had issued an earlier show-cause notice to NSCI in Oct 2025. However, the club’s subsequent explanation submitted in Nov 2025 was found to be “not satisfactory”, the latest notice states.BMC has also cited another set of programmes held between April 29 and July 29, 2026. Of the 68 programmes held at the stadium, Palace Hall and Maharaja Hall during this period, 66, or 97.05%, were non-sporting programmes, for which the civic body said prior permission had not been obtained.
