Delhi Gymkhana Club Moves Delhi HC Against Eviction Notice Over 27.3 Acre Safdarjung Road Property

Members and employees of the Delhi Gymkhana Club have petitioned the Delhi High Court to challenge the Centre’s show cause notice seeking their eviction from its 27.3 acre premises on Safdarjung Road.

Club moves court over L&DO order

Justice Avneesh Jhingan is scheduled to hear the applications on July 6. The petitions seek a stay on the execution of the notice issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) on May 22, which terminated the perpetual lease deed and directed the colonial-era club to vacate the land by June 5 on the grounds of “strengthening and securing defence infrastructure.” The petitions have been filed by Vijay Khurana and the Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd Staff Welfare Association.

Stay sought on eviction notice

The club also received a show-cause notice from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, asking why it should not be evicted under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1971. Estate Officer Bipin Kumar Singh issued the notice, directing the club and other occupants to respond by July 7 and appear for a personal hearing the same day at 2:30 pm.

This action came more than a month after the Centre informed the Delhi High Court on May 26 that it would not forcibly seize the 27.3-acre property by June 5 in order to “strengthen and secure defence infrastructure.” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta later stated that the Centre would proceed with the takeover of the club’s property strictly through legal process.