The Union government has issued a show-cause notice to the Delhi Gymkhana Club seeking possession of its 27.3-acre [1] Safdarjung Road premises.
The move signals a tightening of government control over prime real estate in New Delhi. The Land & Development Office (L&DO), operating under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, is attempting to reclaim land it identifies as public property.
According to the L&DO, the land is required for defense and other public purposes [2]. Officials said the club continues to occupy the site despite the termination of its lease. This current action follows an earlier order that required the club to hand over the premises by June 5, 2024 [3].
In the latest show-cause notice dated July 1, 2024, the government has demanded a response from the club by July 7, 2024 [4]. This notice serves as a procedural step before a formal eviction order can be passed. An L&DO official said the club was required to vacate under the public purpose clause of the lease deed [3].
"The land is public property needed for defence and other public purposes," a Union Government spokesperson said [2].
The Delhi Gymkhana Club has sought an urgent meeting with officials from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to discuss the notice. A representative for the club said the organization is attempting to resolve the matter through dialogue.
The dispute centers on the 27.3-acre [1] plot located at 2, Safdarjung Road. While the government asserts its right to the land for national security and public utility, the club has challenged the timeline and the nature of the eviction process.
“"The land is public property needed for defence and other public purposes."”
This dispute highlights the tension between historic private institutions and the Indian government's efforts to reclaim high-value land in the capital's Lutyens zone for state use. The use of the 'public purpose' clause allows the government to override existing lease agreements, potentially setting a precedent for other institutional land holdings in New Delhi.
