Gymkhana Club members weigh options after Centre’s notice to vacate premises

Members of the prestigious Delhi Gymkhana Club are in a shock after the Central government issued a notice to the club to vacate its premises located close to the Prime Minister’s residence in Lutyens’ Delhi by June 5 for defence-related projects.

The matter has become a talk of the town, especially amongst the capital’s elite, given the fact that it is one of the oldest clubs in the country.

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Sources said the club members and the governing body held a meeting today to consider various legal and other options to deal with the situation.

The meeting authorised club member Vijay Khurana ‘‘to appear in all Tribunals/ Courts/ Judicial/ Quasi-judicial/other Forums/ Public or other Authorities in India and to sign papers for consulting and defending legal proceedings, civil or criminal, and to make personal appearances before all Tribunal/Courts/Judicial/Quasi-Judicial/other Forums/Public or other Authorities in India in actions arising out of order No. L-II(B)-17(9)99/137 of Mr. Suchit Goyal, Competent Authority, Deputy Land & Development Office.’’

The governing body of the club is also sending a communication to the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry, seeking an urgent meeting with ministry officials.

The club, which sits on around 27 acres of land, employs a large number of people, who now fear that they might lose their jobs. The institution that came into being in 1913 has elaborate sports facilities, including grass tennis courts, squash courts, billiards room, swimming pool, lounge bars, and cottages. It is considered a preferred destination for bureaucrats, industrialists, and the elite, with the membership considered highly prestigious, and something not very easy to get.

The notice from the Land and Development Office says since the site is located in a highly sensitive and strategic area, it is required for institutional and governance-related purposes.

Meanwhile, former Lt Governor of Puducherry and retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi, taking to social media platform X, wrote, “This is unfortunate. It is truly tragic. (Hope the proposal is reconsidered). Arun Jaitley got a new pool constructed during his life time. Some of the finest tennis matches have played here. So much history, so many memories, and generations of sporting excellence are associated with this place.”

She stated that the Delhi Gymkhana Club is not just a property — it is part of institutional and sporting heritage. “Change may be necessary, but history and legacy deserve thoughtful preservation,” Bedi added.