High Court directs Centre to defer Delhi Gymkhanadefer Delhi Gymkhana Club eviction hearing
The Delhi High Court ordered the Centre to defer a July 7 eviction hearing against the Delhi Gymkhana Club, halting the Land and Development Office's attempt to terminate the club's perpetual lease and reclaim its land in Lutyens' Delhi.
The court's decision allows the club to continue its pending lawsuit following the May 22 order that terminated the lease on grounds of invalidity, raising questions about the government's authority to evict historic institutions under the Public Premises Eviction Act.
Club Legal Advocates
Legal advocates for the Delhi Gymkhana Club argue that the eviction violates long-standing lease rights and historical commitments to colonial-era institutions, claiming the government is overstepping to seize land in Lutyens' Delhi.
Delhi Government
The Delhi government asserts that the perpetual lease was improperly granted and that the club must return publicly owned land to make it available for development or defense infrastructure needs.
- The Delhi Gymkhana Club was founded in 1884 and is one of the oldest sports clubs in India, serving as a hub for elite social and athletic life.
- Lutyens' Delhi was designed in the 1910s-1920s as the new capital of British India, featuring broad avenues and grand institutions like the club.
- The Public Premises Eviction Act was originally enacted to clear British military barracks after India's independence, but has been used to target other colonial-era properties.
