HYDERABAD, June 21: The Sindh High Court Hyderabad circuit bench here on Wednesday ordered the district government and Dialdas Club to maintain status quo till July 5 in respect of a threatened dispossession of caterer under verbal orders of the district nazim.

The order was passed on a constitutional petition, filed by Aijaz Khoja, the caterer of the club through Anwar Ansari. Justice Mohammad Moosa K.Leghari directed that “parties shall maintain status quo till July 5” and allowed time to Advocate Aslam Pervez, who would file comments on behalf of the district nazim, DCO, EDO and the district officer revenue, Hyderabad.

According to counsel of the petitioner, his client had executed an agreement in 2004 with the secretary of the Dialdas Club and before execution of agreement the club’s secretary had called tenders for decoration rights of functions of different kinds in the club’s premises i.e. auditorium and tennis court area and the petitioner was declared as the highest bidder, and awarded the contract. He said that according to terms and conditions of the agreement, he had paid an amount of Rs2.2 million to the club as non-refundable amount and he was under binding to pay Rs one lac per month regularly.

He said that agreement was given effect for five years from March 17, 2004 to April 16,2009.

He said that he was running his business quite smoothly but, in November-December last year, a rift between the elected body of the club and some other interested persons took place which led to litigation before the high court which was seized of the mater now.

Thereafter, he said, the club was closed by local administration to avoid any law and order situation and since then there was no elected body of the club.

He added that respondent EDO and DO revenue took over administration of the club as per directives of the district nazim and the DCO.

He said that he was paying regularly rent of Rs 100,000 as per agreement without fail. He maintained that on January 27,2006 respondent district office revenue wrote a letter to the petitioner to arrange payments of staff of club and utility bills of club to enable respondents to clear dues because account of the clubs are not operational.

He pointed out that petitioner on receiving letter paid salary of staff and utility bills to facilitate respondent EDO and DO revenue.

However, he said, in April 2006 the respondents started harassing him to vacate the premises without giving nay notice.

He further said that after verbal order of respondent EDO and DO, the petitioner approached the district nazim and the DCO for redressal of his grievances but they asked him to act as per verbal orders.

He said that on April 20, respondents told him to vacate the premises otherwise they would dispossess him forcibly and throw away his goods out of the club.

He stated that official functionaries are supposed to redress grievances of general public and not to victimise or harass them without lawful authority because they are running club’s affairs temporarily.

He pointed out that he was under serious threat and tremendous pressure from EDO and DO after getting their verbal orders and added that they are out to dispossess him of the premises which would cause him huge financial losses.

He prayed the court to direct respondents — the EDO and the DO revenue — not to harass him and declare their verbal orders illegal.

He said that respondents should be restrained from dispossessing him from the premises.