It has been a Sunday, March 22, of turmoil and tumult at Bandra Gymkhana, on St Andrews Road, Bandra (W). The current president, Dr Cheryl Misquitta, was removed from her post effective Sunday, said a communication from the Gymkhana’s Hon. Gen. Secretary Theresa Aguiar.
As per a notice dated March 22, signed by Aguiar, it was informed that, ‘As per the resolution taken at the Extraordinary General Body Meeting (EGM) held on Sunday, March 22. It was hereby resolved that the President of the Bandra Gymkhana Dr Cheryl Misquitta, has been removed from the office of the Bandra Gymkhana as president with immediate effect.’
A view of the Bandra Gymkhana from the tennis courts. File pic/FB/bandragymofficial
Dr Misquitta has hit back with a communication slamming the EGM as illegal. Dr Misquitta’s retort, addressed to the members of the Bandra Gymkhana and dated March 22, highlighted a few points. It said, ‘Through unverified WhatsApp forwards, it has come to my attention that a notice dated March 22 bearing what appears to be the signature of the honorable general secretary of the gymkhana stating that I have been removed from the office of the gymkhana as president with immediate effect pursuant to a resolution taken at the extraordinary general body (EGM) held earlier today.
I have received no official or formal confirmation of these events, hence I am unable to confirm the same. In the background of my challenge to the maintainability and legality of the EGM, the purported resolution passed therein shall have no force or binding on a duly elected president of the gymkhana.’ Urging members of the gymkhana, located on St Andrews Road, Bandra West, to “ignore” this, Dr Misquitta asserted that she “continues to serve as the president of the gymkhana.”
Aguiar said, “On March 9, the managing committee (MC) received a letter signed by about 500 members. The letter raised some serious concerns about the standards of governance on the part of the president. An EGM was therefore called by the MC as per the rules to address the concerns of the members on the morning of Sunday, March 22. In this EGM, a detailed debate was held on the issues raised, and answers were provided to the questions asked by members. Finally, members raised a vote of no confidence in the president, which was carried by a vote of 352 in favour and none against. By this resolution, members removed the president from her post.”
Background
>> On March 13, Theresa informed via notice that 500 members wrote to the managing committee of the gymkhana with concerns about the election process held at 2025 end.
>> There was a request to the managing committee to hold an EGM to address questions and concerns. EGM called on Sunday, March 22 in response.
The gymkhana
Bandra Gymkhana was inaugurated on May 4, 1935. An eminent architect, EC Henriques, consulting architect to the Government of Bombay, was appointed to design the pavilion. It was the first pavilion in Bombay to feature an indoor badminton court. In testament to its quality, the original floor is still in existence years later, having been used almost every day since 1935.
