The history of DSOI Chandigarh is very much linked to history of Chandigarh. To
attract population to the new capital huge tracts of land was allotted to Army, Air
force, Ordinance factory etc. On the residential side, Sectors 33 to 36 were
earmarked as a Defense sectors. As Officers retired and settled down in the city
in the mid-80s a need was felt to have a DSOI in Chandigarh. Finally Land was
allotted during the tenure of Gen O P Malhotra as UT Administrator & Governor
of Punjab. The cost of land was paid by the Punjab Government.
The Institute was registered as DSOC on 16 Mar 1992. Later another similar
registration was done by a rival group of officers on 26 Feb 1996 naming the
Institute DSOI. This resulted in a judicial fight in the courts and ultimately there
was a compromise agreement that was presided over by then Governor of
Punjab and U.T., Administrator Lt Gen JFR Jacob, PVSM (Retd). Accordingly a
new Society DSOI (Chandigarh) was registered while both rival bodies were
dissolved. Responsibility to oversee affairs of the Institute was given to HQ
Western Command (HQWC) on 21 Nov 2001.
In the newly created DSOI management, permanent representation of the Punjab
Goverment was ensured by including the Secretary Rajya Sainik Board (exofficio member) and the Managing Director Punjab Ex-Servicemen Corporation
(ex-officio member) in the Managing Committee. First elections of the
management Committee and Annual General Body Meeting were held on 22 Dec
2001.
The club had a very humble beginning, starting from a thatched roof Gazebo
under the mango tree. Many officers contributed by buying life membership to
provide the initial seed money to run the DSOI. Over the years everybody
contributed to improve the DSOI to bring it to its present glory befitting its stature
in City Beautiful.
