Centre Informs High Court No Forced Eviction Planned At Delhi Gymkhana
Centre assured Delhi High Court police will not forcibly vacate Delhi Gymkhana premises.
The Union government on Tuesday assured the Delhi High Court that it will not forcibly take possession of the Delhi Gymkhana Club premises on June 5, amid an ongoing dispute over the Centre’s eviction notice issued to the century-old institution located on prime land in Lutyens’ Delhi.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that no immediate coercive action would be taken to vacate the 27-acre property and that due process would be followed. He clarified that authorities would not “move in” on the specified date and that any steps toward possession would be taken only after issuing proper notice.
The government had recently issued an eviction order to the club, invoking a clause in its lease agreement and stating that the land was required for “public purpose.” The Land and Development Office under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry directed the club to vacate the premises by June 5, citing “urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public interest projects,” including defence-related requirements.
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The Delhi Gymkhana Club has challenged the eviction notice before the Delhi High Court, arguing that the directive was issued without proper procedural safeguards. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the club, contended that the Centre had issued a directive rather than a show cause notice, raising concerns over sudden displacement and its impact on members and staff.
The club, which has around 14,000 members including diplomats, bureaucrats and senior professionals, has also requested clarification on whether alternate land would be provided for relocation. It employs nearly 500 staff members and hosts cultural and sporting activities, arguing that abrupt eviction would disrupt multiple stakeholders and operations.
While the Centre maintained that the land is required for broader public interest, it also indicated openness to offering alternate accommodation to the club. The court is expected to further examine procedural compliance and the legality of the eviction process in the upcoming hearings.
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