Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Supreme Court Asks High Court to Hear Gymkhana Takeover Challenge
Eleven members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club want to challenge the government’s plan to take back land used by the club and start eviction proceedings.
The Supreme Court said they can ask the Delhi High Court to consider their case.
The High Court can still decide whether the members are legally allowed to bring the case.
The members say a government-appointed committee runs the club and cannot fairly challenge the government in court.
They want two government notices cancelled.
One notice ended the club’s lease, while the other asked why the club should not be evicted.
The government’s notice said the land was needed for purposes including defence and public security.
The members dispute the reasons and say the notice did not identify a specific project or provide for compensation.
The Supreme Court allowed 11 Delhi Gymkhana Club members to ask the Delhi High Court to consider their challenge to the Centre’s takeover and eviction proceedings.
The High Court had earlier declined to hear the members’ plea, saying the club itself could challenge the decision.
The members say a government-nominated committee manages the club and cannot effectively litigate against the government.
Their petition seeks to quash the Land and Development Office’s May 22 resumption notification and a June 29 eviction show-cause notice.
The petition alleges the takeover is unjustified and violates members’ rights; the notification cited defence infrastructure, public security, institutional needs and public-interest projects.
- Who
- Eleven Delhi Gymkhana Club members, the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court.
- What
- The Supreme Court permitted the members to ask the Delhi High Court to consider their challenge to the Centre’s land resumption and eviction proceedings, subject to legal objections.
- When
- The Supreme Court acted on Monday; the challenged notices were issued on May 22 and June 29.
- Where
- The Delhi Gymkhana Club premises on Safdarjung Road, Delhi.
- Why
- The members seek to stop the land resumption and eviction, alleging the government’s actions are unlawful and that the government-appointed club management cannot effectively challenge them.
Club members’ allegations
Government position and legal objections
Who may challenge the takeover
Club members’ allegations
The members say they should be able to bring the case because a government-nominated committee manages the club and cannot effectively litigate against the government.
Government position and legal objections
The High Court had earlier declined to entertain the members’ plea, saying the club itself could challenge the decision; objections to whether the members’ case is maintainable may still be raised.
Basis for taking back the land
Club members’ allegations
The petition alleges the notification did not identify a specific project or disclose the supporting material, says no compensation was provided, and disputes the government’s stated grounds.
Government position and legal objections
The notification cited needs including defence infrastructure, public security, institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public-interest projects.
Management and takeover process
Club members’ allegations
The petition alleges the government first secured control through a nominated management committee and then pursued the land resumption and eviction; it also says the management did not effectively challenge the notices.
Government position and legal objections
The report describes the government’s takeover and eviction steps, but does not provide a detailed response to these allegations.
- Petitioners
- Vipin Aggarwal and 10 other Delhi Gymkhana Club members
- Land at issue
- 27.3 acres on Safdarjung Road
- Resumption notification
- Issued by the Land and Development Office on May 22; the petition says it determined a 1928 perpetual lease and directed re-entry
- Eviction notice
- Show-cause notice issued on June 29 under the Public Premises Act
- Supreme Court direction
- Members may approach the Delhi High Court, subject to objections including maintainability
- Government-stated purpose
- The notification cited defence infrastructure, public security, institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public-interest projects
- Ground-rent dispute
- The petition says the L&DO demanded Rs 47.59 crore in arrears on April 16; that demand is being challenged separately
- Centre’s earlier statement
- In a separate case, the Centre told the High Court on September 3 it would take no coercive action against the club until September 16
