Govt strikes Property Officer for eviction of Delhi Gymkhana Membership: ‘Unlawful occupation’
The Union authorities has moved the Property Officer looking for the eviction of the Delhi Gymkhana Membership from its 27.3-acre premises at 2, Safdarjung Street in New Delhi, claiming that the land is required for defence infrastructure, public safety and different public-interest tasks.
In a plaint filed earlier than the Property Officer of the Land and Growth Workplace (L&DO), the Centre mentioned the land belongs to the Union of India and qualifies as public premises underneath the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.
The federal government mentioned the property had been leased in 1928 to the then Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Membership Ltd, now often known as Delhi Gymkhana Membership Ltd, underneath a perpetual lease deed. It cited Clause 4 of the lease deed, which allows the federal government to renew possession if the land is required for a public function.
“The Centre additional argued that following the termination of the lease underneath Clause 4 of the perpetual lease deed and the federal government’s re-entry into the property, the membership’s continued occupation of the premises had turn into “wholly unauthorised and unlawful”. It contended that Delhi Gymkhana Membership now falls inside the definition of an “unauthorised occupant” underneath Part 2(g) of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, and is due to this fact liable to eviction in accordance with legislation.
Based on the plaint, the premises are situated in a “extremely delicate” and strategically necessary a part of the nationwide capital and are required for strengthening defence infrastructure, public safety necessities, governance infrastructure and different public-interest tasks. The submitting additionally famous that adjoining parcels of presidency land within the neighborhood had already been resumed by the Centre.
The federal government mentioned the President of India, appearing via the L&DO, issued a discover on Could 22, 2026, terminating the lease and ordering re-entry and resumption of the property with fast impact. The membership was directed at hand over possession of the premises by June 5.
Nevertheless, the plaint alleged that the membership did not vacate the premises and continues to occupy the land regardless of the termination of the lease. The Centre argued that the continued occupation quantities to unauthorised occupation underneath Part 2(g) of the Public Premises Act.
The federal government has sought orders declaring Delhi Gymkhana Membership an unauthorised occupant and directing its eviction underneath the provisions of the Act, in addition to looking for vacant possession of the property.
What led to the most recent transfer
The most recent submitting comes weeks after the Centre ordered the membership at hand over the premises to the L&DO by June 5, invoking the general public function clause within the authentic lease deed. The federal government had mentioned the land, situated near key authorities institutions in Lutyens’ Delhi, was required for defence infrastructure and public safety functions.
The membership subsequently approached the Delhi Excessive Courtroom difficult the federal government’s determination. In its plaint earlier than the Property Officer, the Centre mentioned the excessive court docket had declined to grant an injunction towards the takeover and that possession of the property can be taken in accordance with legislation.
About Delhi Gymkhana Membership
Based in 1913 because the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Membership and renamed after Independence, the Delhi Gymkhana Membership is among the many nation’s oldest and most outstanding establishments. Situated subsequent to the Prime Minister’s residence within the coronary heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, the membership has lengthy counted senior bureaucrats, navy officers, diplomats and enterprise leaders amongst its members.
