The Union government on Friday ordered Delhi Gymkhana Club to hand over its 27.3-acre premises at 2 Safdarjung Road to the Land and Development Office (L&DO) by June 5, citing the public purpose clause in the original lease agreement.
The order, signed by Deputy Land and Development Officer Suchit Goyal, describes the buildings as falling within a “sensitive and highly strategic area” in the capital, and says they are urgently needed to strengthen defense infrastructure and public security purposes.
“The land is necessary to meet urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure, and public interest projects, integrated with the resumption of adjacent government land,” the order issued by the L&DO, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, said.
Delhi Gymkhana Club is located in the heart of Lutyens Town, Delhi, next to the Prime Minister’s Residence on Lok Kalyan Marg. Founded in 1913 as Imerial Delhi Gymkhana Club, renamed after Independence, the club today is among the oldest elite institutional clubs in the country.
Friday’s order is the culmination of a governance dispute that has been simmering for years: In April 2022, the National Company Law Tribunal allowed the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to nominate directors to the club’s general committee, citing mismanagement.
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On re-entry, the entire plot of land, together with all existing buildings, structures, lawns and accoutrements, will vest in full with the President of India. The order sent to the club secretary added that if the club fails to meet the deadline, possession will be seized in accordance with the law.
A copy of the order has been handed over to the Deputy Commissioner of Police concerned to make necessary arrangements to maintain law and order during the seizure.
No club official could be reached for comment.
The land on Safdarjung Road was originally leased for the specific purpose of maintaining a social and sports club. The plot of land was allocated to the club in 1928 on a perpetual lease.
This is the latest in a series of land appeal actions taken by L&DO in central Delhi.
In March, the office closed the headquarters of news agency United News of India at 9am on Ravi Marg, after the Delhi High Court upheld the cancellation of its land allotment based on technicalities of lease terms. Around the same time, L&DO issued eviction notices to slum groups near the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, erstwhile Race Course Road, due to security concerns.
L&DO manages 60,526 residential, commercial, industrial and institutional leases covering 19,995 acres – 5.5% of Delhi’s total land area – and covering key areas within the Lutyens Bungalow area, including Chanakya Puri, Jor Bagh, Golf Links, Sunder Nagar and Connaught Place, as well as rehabilitation colonies. Of these, 1,430 are institutional properties.
