The Delhi High Court on Tuesday denied interim relief to members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club regarding their eviction from the club's premises [1].
The ruling underscores the Central Government's priority to reclaim prime land in Lutyens' Delhi for national security purposes. Because the court refused to stay the eviction, the club faces a tight deadline to vacate a high-profile area of the capital.
The dispute centers on a 27.3-acre plot [3] located on Safdarjung Road. The Central Government issued a notice on May 22 [3] demanding that the club hand over the land. The government said the site is required for "strengthening and securing defence infrastructure" [3].
Club members challenged the validity of the notice, arguing against the eviction in court. However, the High Court heard competing arguments on the matter on May 26 [1] and decided not to grant interim protection [2]. This means the legal challenge will continue, but the club does not have a court-ordered stay to remain on the property in the immediate term.
The court's decision maintains the deadline for the club to vacate the premises by June 5 [2]. The government said in court that it would not seek forceful possession of the club [4], but the legal requirement to hand over the land remains in effect.
The Delhi Gymkhana Club is a prominent institution in the city, and the loss of its Safdarjung Road home represents a significant displacement of its operations, and membership.
“The court declined interim protection against the Centre's notice asking Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate.”
This decision signals the judiciary's reluctance to obstruct the Central Government when national security and defence infrastructure are cited as the primary drivers for land reclamation. By denying interim relief, the court has prioritized the government's stated security timeline over the club's property rights, effectively accelerating the handover of a massive land parcel in one of the most secure zones of the city.
