In the ongoing dispute over the Delhi Gymkhana Club land, the Central Government has told the Delhi High Court that it cannot stop the legal process of evicting occupants from public property.
In its reply before Justice Avnish Jhingan, the Centre said the club’s permanent lease had been legally terminated and that the show-cause notice issued by the Estate Officer was valid.
The government told the court that the lease, signed on February 28, 1928, was terminated on May 22, 2026, under the terms of the agreement. It said the club’s occupation of the land after that date became unauthorised under Section 2(g) of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act.
The Centre also said the lease agreement was between the Central Government and Delhi Gymkhana Club Limited. Therefore, it argued that no individual club member can stop the government from exercising its legal rights.
What is the Delhi Gymkhana Club dispute?
The Delhi Gymkhana Club is one of the country’s most prestigious clubs and has operated for decades on land owned by the Central Government.
Recently, the government decided to end the club’s lease and take a stricter approach towards its operations. Since then, the dispute between the club management and the government has intensified.
The government says public land should be managed transparently and used in the public interest. Those opposing the move argue that the club’s historic heritage and institutional identity should be protected.
Getting entry into this club, which has about 1200 members, is considered very difficult.
Club is near PM’s residence, designed by British architect
Delhi Gymkhana Club was designed by renowned British architect Robert Tor Russell, who also designed Connaught Place and Teen Murti Bhavan.
The club is located near the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, making the surrounding area a high-security zone.
Club has tennis courts, swimming pool and other facilities
For the past 113 years, the club has been regarded as a symbol of elite social status.
It has 26 grass tennis courts, believed to be the highest number at any club in the country. Other facilities include squash and badminton courts, a billiards room, a swimming pool, three lounge bars and 43 cottages.
The club has long been popular among bureaucrats, Army chiefs, judges, politicians, industrialists and members of established business families. Membership is widely considered highly prestigious.
Only 100 people get membership every year
Getting membership at the club, which has around 1,200 members, is considered extremely difficult.
In the past, applicants often had to wait 20 to 30 years for membership. Only around 100 new members are admitted each year.
For many years, the club followed the 40-40-20 rule. Under this system, 40% of memberships went to civil services, 40% to defence services and the remaining 20% to other applicants.
Children of existing members were also given preference, making it even harder for outsiders to join.
Before membership was granted, applicants also had to go through a process known as “At Home”, where existing members decided whether a candidate was suitable for the club.
This practice has also drawn criticism over the years for promoting an exclusive high-society culture.
