Centre sends eviction notice to Delhi Gymkhana Club | Delhi News
3 min readUpdated: Jul 1, 2026 02:41 PM IST
The Union government on Monday had sent an eviction notice to Delhi Gymkhana Club, sources have told The Indian Express. The Centre said the club’s occupation of the property on Safdarjung Road after the expiry of its lease on May 22 was “unauthorised”.
The notice, under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupant) Act, 1971, asks for the club’s representative to appear before the Land and Development Office for a hearing on July 7. It adds that the premises in question “constitute valuable public premises vested in the Union of India and the Government is under an obligation to regulate, protect and utilize such public property in accordance with public interest and public purpose”.
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What the government contends
Under the lease deed, the lessor (government) can resume and re-enter, or take back, the premises if it is required for a public purpose, the notice says. On May 22, the Land and Development Office (L&DO) had written to the club informing it that the land was needed for strengthening defence infrastructure and other public projects.
“Despite lawful determination of the lease and despite being called upon to hand over possession, the respondent failed to vacate the premises and continues in occupation thereof…Because valuable government land situated in the National Capital cannot be permitted to remain under unauthorised occupation contrary to governmental determination and larger public interest,” the government’s eviction notice read.
The 27.3 acre plot was leased out in 1928 for the Imperial Gymkhana Club, which became Delhi Gymkhana Club after Independence. When the lease ended on May 22, the L&DO said it was “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”.
The L&DO had asked for the premised to be handed over by June 5, which led members to move the Delhi High Court. The court, however, did not order a stay. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the government would proceed as per procedure established under law.
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