The Center is asking the Delhi Gymkhana Club to hand over the premises by June 5
View of Delhi Gymkhana Club. Photo: Wikipedia
The Delhi Gymkhana Club was asked by the Union Urban Affairs Ministry to hand over its premises by June 5 as the 27.3-acre plot was required for “strengthening and securing defense infrastructure”.
The club stands adjacent to the Prime Minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg in the state capital.
Located in a highly sensitive and strategic area of Delhi, the campus is imperative for strengthening and securing defense infrastructure and other important public security purposes. This was stated in an order dated May 22 issued by the Land & Development Office (L&DO) under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
According to the order, the land and development office will take over the area on June 5.
The L&DO, in a letter to the club secretary, said that the premises located at 2, Safdarjung Road were leased to Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd. (now known as Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd.) for the special purpose of maintaining a social and sports club.
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Urgent institutional needs
The land is essential to meet urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public interest projects, integrated with the regeneration of adjacent government land. “In exercise of the powers conferred by Article 4 of the Lease, the President of India through the Land & Development Office hereby determines the lease and orders re-entry into the above premises with immediate effect,” it said.
“Upon such re-entry, the entire 27.3-acre site, together with all buildings, standing erections, structures, lawns and appurtenances, shall be fully vested in the lessor, i.e. the President of India, through the Land & Development Office.”
“You are ordered to hand over peaceful possession of the premises to the representatives of this office within the above-mentioned deadline. In case of non-compliance, possession will be taken over in accordance with the law,” it said.
The club has operated from the site since 1913 and the current buildings were built in the 1930s. Before Independence it was called Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club and after Independence it was renamed as Delhi Gymkhana Club.
It stands on one of the most valuable and strategically important areas of the city, within a heavily guarded administrative zone that houses several key central government and defense institutions.
Published – 23 May 2026 14:39 IST