The Delhi Gymkhana Club, one of India’s most exclusive clubs, may soon cease to exist at its current location. The central government on Friday directed the club, situated on public land near the Prime Minister’s residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, to vacate the premises by June 5 to allow defence-related infrastructure and other public projects. The order ends a prolonged dispute over control of the club, long associated with India’s elite. The directive completes an action that began with administrative oversight of the club in 2021. The Land and Development Office under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry issued the notice, stating the land is needed for urgent institutional and governance needs in the capital. The premises will be taken over on June 5. The government’s move follows earlier interventions. In 2020 the NCLT examined the club’s management amid claims of irregularities, and in 2021 the NCLAT placed an administrator in charge. The 113-year-old club occupies 27 acres in Lutyens’ Delhi on a nominal annual lease of Rs 1,000. Inspections showed limited spending on sports and higher outlays on hospitality. Membership has been restricted, with long waitlists and high fees. The club was founded in 1913 and shifted to its present site in 1928. After independence the word imperial was removed from its name. The order cites deviation from the original aim of promoting sports as a reason for reclaiming the land.
