Summary:
The Bombay high court has cracked the whip on Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd (RWITC), holding it liable to contribute towards the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation Scheme for nearly 400 ‘race day persons’ engaged by it. In 2005 the ESI court held it to be valid. The club, registered as a Public Amusement Club, under provisions of Bombay Shops and Establishment Act, conducts horse races in Mumbai and Pune. The matter went to the SC which held that the Club was also covered under the provisions of ESI Act as were ‘race day persons’. But the HC allowed petition filed by the ESIC against five RWITC pleas between 2004-06 against corporation’s demand notices for several years..