The Delhi Gymkhana Club, originally incorporated as Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club Limited, has been occupying a parcel of land on Safdarjung Road under a lease granted for the purpose of maintaining a social and sporting club. The Central Government, through its Estate Officer, issued a show cause notice directing the club to vacate the premises, asserting that the land is required for defence and public security purposes. The club and its members contend that the notice is untenable and have filed suits challenging the order directing vacation of the premises.
The suits were filed last month and summons were issued to the parties. In the pending proceedings, the club’s representatives have also moved applications seeking a stay on the operation of the show cause notice pending adjudication of the substantive suits.
Court’s Observations and Directions
Justice Avneesh Jhingan, presiding over the matter, noted that the applications filed by the club members and staff raise a serious question regarding the maintainability of the eviction notice in light of the pending suits. Consequently, the court issued notice to the Union of India, directing the Central Government to file its response to the applications.
During the hearing, the Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, appeared on behalf of the Centre. He informed the court that the Central Government intends to file a detailed response to the applications by the next date of hearing before the High Court, which is fixed for 28 July 2026. In order to avoid any parallel proceedings that might prejudice the parties, the court requested the Solicitor General to ensure that the hearing scheduled before the Estate Officer on 7 July 2026 is adjourned to a date subsequent to the High Court’s next hearing date.
The Solicitor General assented to the request, confirming that the Estate Officer’s hearing would be postponed accordingly. The court thus directed that the July 07 hearing before the Estate Officer stand adjourned to a day after 28 July 2026, allowing the High Court to first consider the stay applications and the Centre’s response.
Government’s Position on the Land
The Central Government has maintained that the land parcel situated on Safdarjung Road lies in a highly sensitive and strategic zone of Delhi. It contends that the premises are critically required for the strengthening and securing of defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposes. This assertion forms the factual basis for the show cause notice issued by the Estate Officer.
The club, on the other hand, emphasizes the longstanding lease and the nature of its activities as a social and sporting institution, arguing that the eviction notice disproportionately affects its members and staff who have been associated with the premises for several decades.
Implications of the Order
By seeking the Centre’s response and linking the Estate Officer’s hearing to the High Court’s schedule, the Delhi High Court has sought to ensure that the question of eviction is examined comprehensively before any coercive action is taken. The order reflects the court’s effort to balance the executive’s claim of defence necessity with the club’s contractual and procedural rights.
The matter is now set for further hearing on 28 July 2026, when the Central Government is expected to place on record its response to the stay applications. Until then, the status quo regarding the show cause notice is preserved by the adjournment of the Estate Officer’s proceedings.