Explained: Why was CLTA removed from Chandigarh’s Sector 10 stadium?

The Chandigarh Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA), one of North India's most prominent tennis institutions, was evicted from the Sector 10 Tennis Stadium after 40 years of private control.

The Union Territory Sports Department officially took possession of the complex on September 17, 2025, citing lease violations. The takeover was carried out in the presence of a heavy police force and Central Sub-Divisional Magistrate Naveen, a day after the expiry of the seven-day notice period issued to the CLTA following the termination of its lease.

The CLTA began operating at the government-owned facility in 1986. For the first ten years, it used the facility for free. On January 16, 1997, the Chandigarh Sports Department and CLTA signed a formal lease agreement under which the association paid a nominal annual rent of ₹100 for the 7.5-acre facility comprising 20 tennis courts.

The arrangement was intended to promote tennis but over time questions were raised over the financial model under which CLTA paid the government ₹100 annually while charging players ₹54,000 a month for coaching.

Commercialisation and lease violations

The CLTA gradually commercialised parts of the stadium and allegedly sublet portions of the premises. Audit documents pointed to a cafeteria and a commercial pro shop inside the stadium. A hostel was also constructed in the early 1990s without approval and continued operating for decades.

The Chandigarh Academy for Rural Tennis (CHART), launched as a programme to promote rural tennis, also came under scrutiny.

Despite these developments, the association continued to receive public funds, government assistance, MPLAD allocations and sponsorship support.

A harrassment case in 2019 shed light on the irregularities. The accused trainees were reportedly linked to the CHART ecosystem and were residents of the hostel. It was alleged that the CLTA extended legal support to the accused and furnished bail bonds using public money.

Questions were raised after counter proceedings were initiated against the father of the minor victim, who was later acquitted.

During this period, the UT Administration did not intervene and the lease was extended. The annual rent was increased to ₹1.22 lakh, although allegations of violations continued.

Impact on players

Apart from administrative issues, the association also faced allegations relating to player development.

One of the most prominent examples cited was Chandigarh's No. 1 men's singles player, Neeraj Yashpaul, who allegedly struggled to gain access to training facilities, institutional support and wild card entries for tournaments hosted at the same venue.

His father and coach, Ajay Yashpaul, said during a press conference that it was "the right of the No. 1 player to train at the parent association's facility and also to get a wild card entry in ITF tournaments being held at CLTA."

Neeraj's case was not an isolated one, with several players allegedly facing similar challenges.

Administrative action

The matter gathered momentum after sports lawyer and ITF senior player Prasang Raheja initiated legal proceedings, filed RTIs and pursued the matter with the authorities. Through these efforts, alleged violations were documented and brought before the administration.

In 2024, earlier audit objections resurfaced. RTI documents showed that the Chandigarh Administration issued three show-cause notices to the CLTA regarding subletting of the cafeteria, operation of a sports/pro shop inside the stadium and running of the CHART scheme.

Several questions, however, remain unresolved. These include whether public money allegedly generated through years of subletting will be recovered, how tax exemptions were justified despite commercial activity, and whether the government will be able to maintain the stadium as a world-class tennis facility after assuming direct control.