BY PC Bureau
May 25, 2026: Delhi Gymkhana Club has approached the Delhi High Court challenging a Central government directive ordering it to vacate its 27.3-acre premises in Lutyens’ Delhi by June 5. The matter was mentioned before Justice Avneesh Jhingan by Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who sought an urgent hearing. The court agreed to hear the case on May 26.
The dispute stems from a May 22 notice issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO), directing the club to hand over possession of its sprawling property at 2, Safdarjung Road. The government invoked Clause 4 of the original lease agreement, which permits it to reclaim the land if required for a “public purpose”.
According to the Centre, the land — located near the Prime Minister’s residence and several high-security installations in Lutyens’ Delhi — is needed to strengthen defence infrastructure, governance-related facilities and other critical public security requirements.
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The notice stated that upon re-entry, the entire 27.3-acre property, including all buildings, structures, lawns and fittings, would vest absolutely with the lessor — the President of India through the L&DO. The government further said possession of the premises would be taken over on June 5.
VIDEO | To file a petition in court challenging the Centre's order directing the Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate its premises in Lutyens' Delhi by June 5, members of the historic club on Sunday launched a signature campaign to authorise legal action against the move.
(Full video… pic.twitter.com/UdWYBjcAI9
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 25, 2026
Following the directive, the General Committee of the Delhi Gymkhana Club held an emergency review meeting and decided to seek urgent clarification from the government over concerns affecting its members and staff.
In a statement, the club said it would immediately write to the L&DO seeking clarity on several operational and administrative issues. The committee has also sought an urgent meeting with officials of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to discuss the matter further.
The club maintained that its immediate priority is to ensure that its day-to-day functioning and operations continue without disruption amid the uncertainty.
Established on July 3, 1913 as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club, the institution primarily catered to British civil servants and military officials during the colonial era. Following Independence in 1947, the word “Imperial” was dropped from its name, though most of the existing structures on the premises date back to the 1930s.
