The club authorities further assured that they would settle the pending amount after directions from the court.

Finance Secretary of the club Prof Arvind Malhotra said the house tax levied by the MC was “excessive, unreasonable and totally unjustified”.

He added: “There are many other clubs in the city, but their house tax is meagre as compared to our club.”

According to the report, the commissioner had issued a public notice declaring the Sutlej Club and the Lodhi Club as defaulters and had even ordered to seal them if the required amount was not paid within 15 days.

MC Commissioner G S Ghuman said: “Our instructions are still the same. If the club fails to deposit the rest of the amount, sealing orders will be issued after a fortnight. Lodhi Club has so far not come forward with any settlement. We have received no instruction to recalculate their house tax so far.”

Malhotra, meanwhile, stated that the high court had given three weeks’ time, from December 17, to deposit the required amount. The court has also issued a notice of motion for February 6, 2009.