Will the elite Delhi Gymkhana Club close down after Centre’s order?

A legal storm is brewing between the Centre and the Delhi Gymkhana Club, an elite space for the city’s powerful and privileged. Amid an uncertain future, the over 100-year-old club has moved the Delhi High Court against the Centre’s directive to vacate the 27.3-acre piece of prime land in Lutyens' Delhi.

The elite members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club are up in arms about the Centre’s order. This is not the first time that the historic club has come under the scanner.

We take a deep dive into the row.

Centre tells Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate

The Centre on Friday (May 22) ordered the Delhi Gymkhana Club to hand over the prime land in Safdarjung Road by June 5, citing public security purposes and national interest.

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In a letter to the secretary of the historic club, the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) directed the surrender of the sprawling premises buildings, standing erections, structures, lawns, and fittings to the L&DO by June 5.

“Whereas it has been determined that the said premises, located in a highly sensitive and strategic area of Delhi, is critically required for the strengthening and securing of defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposes. The land is essential to fulfill urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure, and public interest projects, integrated with the resumption of adjoining government lands,” ThePrint cited the L&DO letter as saying.

The government invoked Clause 4 of the perpetual lease deed executed in favour of the then Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club Limited. Under the clause, the lessor has the power to re-enter and terminate the lease in case the premises is needed for a public purpose.

“…. in exercise of the powers conferred under Clause 4 of the Lease Deed, the President of India, through the Land and Development Office, hereby determines the lease and orders re-entry of the aforesaid premises with immediate effect,” it added.

Founded on July 3, 1913, as the Imperial Gymkhana Club Limited, the institution was meant to serve the British colonial administrators and military officers. The word ‘imperial’ was dropped after India's independence in August 1947.

The Delhi Gymkhana Club's existing structures were constructed in the 1930s. Image Courtesy: delhigymkhana.org.in

The club, located in a leafy enclave in the heart of Delhi, was designed by famed British architect Robert Tor Russell.

It was leased by the L&DO for maintaining a social and sporting club.

Today, the Delhi Gymkhana Club — which symbolises wealth, power and social status —

has around 1,200 members, including high-ranking bureaucrats, military chiefs, diplomats, judges, politicians and industrialists.

It stands adjacent to the prime minister's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, making it one of the most prestigious clubs in India.

Its majestic white building boasts a famed ballroom and is surrounded by manicured lawns. The club has 43 resident cottages, seven clay courts, three squash courts, badminton courts, a billiards room, a covered swimming pool and three lounge bars, as per NDTV.

To gain access to the exclusive club, it could take around three decades to get a membership.

Delhi Gymkhana Club moves court

On Monday (May 25), the Delhi Gymkhana Club moved the Delhi High Court, challenging the Central government’s order to hand over the prime land.

Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi told a bench of the High Court that a petition has been filed assailing the government's order concerning the club's premises, reported ANI.

The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear the matter on Tuesday.

Earlier, the club sought clarification on the L&DO’s letter and urged that the status quo be maintained until several issues are addressed.

It said the Centre's order could impact thousands of members, employees and other stakeholders of the club, requesting that there should be "no dislocation" of the institution and its functioning until clarity on several issues.

It asked the L&DO whether there was an "appropriately located alternate plot of land" that would be allotted to the club for relocation.

The club pointed out that it has invested large amounts of money in revamping infrastructure and facilities for the benefit of the members. It flagged that relocating the club would mean rebuilding facilities and infrastructure at high cost, NDTV cited the letter as saying.

"In addition to the members and their interests, the future of all permanent and other employees and staff of the club needs to be protected", it added.

The club's governing body also urged a meeting with the Land Development Officer to address its concerns about the land vacation order.

On Sunday, members of the club had launched a signature campaign to authorise legal action against the move.

General PK Sehgal (retired), a long-time member of the club, told PTI that the members have unanimously decided to challenge the eviction order in court.

“Several former presidents of India, senior military officers, politicians and bureaucrats have been members of Delhi Gymkhana over the years. It is one of the most prestigious clubs in Delhi, and the sudden decision to take it back has raised concerns among the members about its future and where the club will be shifted,” he said.

Previous controversy

In 2017, the Centre carried out inspections following complaints by 12 people, including two members, alleging irregularities in the club’s management.

The government filed two detailed reports in July 2019 and March 2020, flagging violations of the Companies Act 1956 and the Companies Act 2013.

The club’s legal troubles began soon.

In April 2020, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), seeking a change of management at the Delhi Gymkhana Club and installation of 15 nominees as administrators to run its affairs.

In June of that year, the NCLT decided to dissolve the club’s general committee after finding it was being run in a manner "prejudicial" to the public interest.

In February 2021, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) allowed the government to take over the club.

As per ThePrint, the NCLAT upheld the government’s takeover of the club in October 2024 after hearing pleas against the April 2022 NCLT order allowing the Central government to nominate 15 people as directors on the club’s general committee.

With inputs from agencies