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Informist, Monday, Jul. 6, 2026

 

NEW DELHI – The Delhi High Court Monday sought the government's reply on Delhi Gymkhana Club and its staff association's plea challenging the government's show-cause notice on why the club should not be evicted from its current premises in Lutyens' Delhi. The high court will hear the case by the club against the government next on Jul. 28. 

 

In May, the Land and Development Office under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs wrote to Delhi Gymkhana Club, initiating "re-entry and resumption of premises" comprising the club. According to Clause 4 of the lease deed, the premises can be re-entered, essentially meaning that the government can take back the leased property if it or any part of it is required for a public purpose.

 

Delhi Gymkhana Club has operated from this land for close to 100 years and its 14,000 members include the elite of Delhi comprising political leaders, top businesspersons and members of the bureaucracy, judiciary, and armed forces. The club currently has around 500 employees.

 

The Land and Development Office said the premises were located in a highly sensitive and strategic area, critically required for strengthening and securing of defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposes. The land is essential to fulfil urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure, and public interest projects, integrated with the resumption of adjoining government lands, it said. 

 

Last month, the government issued a show-cause notice to the club asking it to file a response on why the eviction order should not be passed against it. The government said the club's continued occupation of the property after the lease was terminated amounts to unauthorised occupation. Once the lease was terminated, the club lost its legal right to remain in possession, said the government. The club was asked to vacate the premises by Jun. 5. However, after failure to handover possession, the evacuation proceedings have been initiated against the club, said the government. 

 

The petitioners argued that the government's eviction order was vague and did not demonstrate a public purpose. The government's show-cause notice relies on a clause of the imperial-era lease that is "unworkable" and that behind the move lies a "pre-conceived design" to take over the property, said the petitioners.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj

 

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