Heritage queried
The controversy surrounding the Delhi Gymkhana Club is no longer only about one institution in Lutyens’ Delhi.
The controversy surrounding the Delhi Gymkhana Club is no longer only about one institution in Lutyens’ Delhi.
On 22 May 2026, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs issued an eviction order directing the historic 113-year- old Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate its 27.3-acre Lutyens’ Delhi premises by June 5.
The battle over Delhi Gymkhana Club is not really about a club. It is about what kind of capital city India wants to inhabit ~ one rooted in institutional memory or one constantly remade in the image of political power and security priorities.
The matter came up before the Delhi High Court after club members, the Staff Welfare Association and other parties challenged the Union government’s order directing the club to hand over possession of the property situated in the high-security Lutyens’ Delhi zone.
The petition was mentioned before Justice Avneesh Jhingan on Monday by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who sought an urgent hearing on behalf of club member Vijay Khurana. The Delhi HC agreed to take up the matter on May 26.
As per the L&DO order, the government will initiate the possession process in accordance with law if the Club fails to hand over the leased property in time.
Intense public pressure, extensive media coverage and the wishy-washy stance of the authorities have combined to influence the Delhi High…
