Centre to Take Over Delhi Gymkhana Club, Reviving Old Battle
Government notice ordering resumption of Delhi Gymkhana Club premises at Safdarjung Road. (Image X.com)
By KUMAR VIKRAM
Centre Moves to Take Over Delhi Gymkhana Club, Reviving Years-Long Battle Over Lutyens’ Delhi’s Most Exclusive Address
New Delhi, May 23, 2026 — In a move that could trigger another legal battle, the Centre has ordered the resumption of the iconic Delhi Gymkhana Club premises at 2, Safdarjung Road. The order issued by the Centre directs the club to hand over possession by June 5, 2026. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in its order issued on Saturday cited “public purpose”, “defence infrastructure” and “public security” needs as the basis for reclaiming the 27.3-acre estate in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi.
The notice issued by the Land & Development Office (L&DO) of the Ministry states that the land, leased to the erstwhile Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club and later Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd., is now “critically required” for strengthening defence infrastructure and governance-related projects.
The order invokes Clause 4 of the original lease deed, allowing the government to re-enter and resume the land if required for a public purpose. It further says that the entire property — including buildings, lawns and structures — would vest with the President of India through the L&DO.
But this is not merely a land acquisition story. It reopens a bitter and prolonged tussle between the government and one of India’s most elite institutions.
A Battle Years in the Making
The Delhi Gymkhana Club has been under government scrutiny for years. The conflict escalated in 2020, when the Ministry of Corporate Affairs approached the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), alleging mismanagement, irregular memberships, financial improprieties and functioning “prejudicial to public interest”. The government subsequently superseded the club’s elected management and installed an administrator-led committee.
In October 2024, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) upheld the Centre’s intervention. It said that sufficient material existed to justify concerns over public interest. However, it also insisted that government control could not continue indefinitely and reforms had to culminate in fresh elections.
Now, with the latest land resumption order, the dispute appears to have shifted from governance to ownership and strategic control.
Why the Land Matters
The Gymkhana occupies one of the most sensitive and expensive land parcels in New Delhi. Located near the Prime Minister’s residence zone, diplomatic establishments and key government institutions, the property has long been viewed as strategically significant. The club itself traces its origins to 1913, when it was founded as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club during the British era, before moving to its present premises built in the imperial capital project.
The government’s letter specifically mentions integration with adjoining government lands and future institutional infrastructure.
Legal Challenge Likely?
The order directs peaceful handover and warns that possession would otherwise be taken “in accordance with law”. Police authorities have already been copied for arrangements during the proposed takeover date.
Whether the club accepts the move or challenges it in court remains unclear. But the development is likely to reignite debate over elite institutions occupying public land, state control over legacy clubs, and the balance between heritage and strategic priorities.
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