Delhi Gymkhana Club: History, Controversy and Legal Battle

The Delhi Gymkhana Club was asked to vacate its premises. On 22 May 2026, the central government directed the highly exclusive club to hand over ownership and vacate its 27.3-acre site by 5 June. This has sparked a legal, ethical and social media battle between public and private rights.

What is Delhi Gymkhana?

The Delhi Gymkhana Club is an exclusive, private, members-only recreational space located in the heart of India’s capital city, in an area informally known as “Lutyen’s Delhi”.

The club saw the end of British colonial rule, partition and the opening of the Indian economy to the world. Throughout its history, Gymkhana has been criticized for being elitist, exclusionary and exploitative.

Its patrons include the capital’s well-heeled, such as politicians, business tycoons and celebrities.

Map showing 23 acres of Delhi Gymkhana Club in New Delhi. Photo courtesy of:: OpenStreetMap

Delhi Gymkhana: A Historical Timeline.

• 1913: The club was founded on 3 July when Delhi replaced Calcutta as the country’s capital. It was called the ‘Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club’ located in the Coronation Grounds area.
• 1928: Gymkhana was shifted to its present Safdarjung Road site in elusive Lutyens’ after acquiring 27.3 acres of land on permanent lease.
• 1947: The haven for the British and some elite Indians (business magnates, princes, etc.) dropped the word “Imperial” from its name after India became independent. Since then it has been called “Delhi Gymkhana”.
• 2021: The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal of India, or NCLAT, ordered the central government to replace the club’s elected management and appointed a 15-member committee to take over.
• 2022: A new committee is formed and the club finally comes under government control.
• 2026: The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs issues a notice to terminate the club’s permanent lease (dated 1928) and sets an eviction date of 5 June 2026. Reasons include national security and defence.

Club full of accusations: High membership fee with irregular waiting

Gymkhana has long drawn the ire of citizens.

The club’s one-time membership fee at the time of publication is around ₹ 5.5 lakh for government employees and ₹ 22 lakh for non-government employees, with a waiting period of over three decades. It also charges a one-time fee of Rs 7.5 lakh for being put on the waiting list. The fee structure is not explicitly stated on the club’s website.

Built in the style of the Connaught Place circle and Teen Murti Bhavan, the club features a 1930s swimming pool named after the wife of the former Viceroy of India, called the “Lady Willingdon Swimming Bath”.

But not everything is shiny. In 2014, the club was accused by the Delhi government of tax fraud worth ₹2.92 crore. The Delhi Pollution Control Board also ordered its closure due to illegal use of borewells.

The National Green Tribunal intervened and imposed a fine of ₹5 crore.

In 2020, the club sparked controversy when the Ministry of Corporate Affairs noted several irregularities in the irregular way membership was allocated. The waiting period at the time was reportedly 37 years.

Policy Responses: Public Good vs. Political Timing

The central government defended the move to evict the Gymkhana Club, while critics cited the timing of the controversy and alleged politicking.

Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said that “the land we are taking back today will be used as per the requirement and this work will continue. There is no other source of land, so we will have to use this land for development needs. The Center can take back leased land wherever needed.”

Rashid Alvi, a senior Congress leader, linked the move to the eviction as a way to oust the opposition.

Mr. Alvi said in an interview, “It is such an old club and it has many important people as members. The fact that Rahul Gandhi is a member of the Delhi Gymkhana Club is enough to destroy it. What could be a bigger mistake by the Gymkhana Club committee than to make Rahul Gandhi a member and not get people who are considered close to the Prime Minister as members. That is enough to demolish it.”

Meanwhile, other Congress politicians like Shashi Tharoor and Imran Masood criticized the “elitism” of the establishment.

Mr. Tharoor, speaking of his own experience of not being allowed into the Breach Candy club in Mumbai, wrote on 27 May 2026 on X that “There is absolutely no acceptable justification for the existence of a racist provision on government land. To say that the club’s constitution requires it is ludicrous. What about our country’s constitution?”

There is absolutely no acceptable justification for a racist provision to survive on government soil. To say that the club’s bylaws require it is ridiculous. What about our country’s constitution? https://t.co/MtsWmH0rVI

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 27, 2026

Mr Masood called the whole saga “the demands and tantrums of the elite class”.

A legal battle

While the deadline for the May 22 eviction order is June 5, the legal battle continues. The Solicitor General of India argued that the “eviction” was a formal notice of “re-entry and termination of the permanent lease” and that the authorities would not simply seize the land. They intend to follow the rules set out in the Public Premises (Evictions and Unauthorised Occupants) Act.

Meanwhile, the club members, who approached the Delhi High Court, claim that there was no prior notice before the order was issued and that the claim that the land was needed for “strengthening and securing defense infrastructure” was not properly substantiated.

The court did not grant an interim stay or immediate relief in the case, and thus concerns about the future. It also officially noted the Solicitor General’s assurance that no possession will take place without following the law. The next hearing of the case is in July 2026.

Until then, the saga of whether the hallowed Delhi Gymkhana will survive or fall continues.

Published – 05 Jun 2026 09:41 IST