In a recent legal development, the Delhi Gymkhana Club finds itself at the center of legal proceedings as two applications have been lodged with the Delhi High Court. These filings contest the Central government’s initiative to evict the historic club from its expansive 27.3-acre property located in Lutyens Delhi.
The applications have been integrated into ongoing litigation, one initiated by Vijay Khurana, a member of the Gymkhana Club, and another by the Club’s staff welfare association. Justice Avneesh Jhingan is set to preside over these matters on July 6.
This legal tussle follows a recent action by the Estate Officer of the Land & Development Office (L&DO), who dispatched a show cause notice to the Gymkhana Club. The notice was issued in response to a plea filed by the Central government, seeking to reclaim the premises.
The suits currently pending before the High Court dispute an earlier directive by the government to vacate the premises. In a hearing conducted in May, the High Court refrained from issuing interim orders against the eviction notice. This decision came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that any eviction efforts would be subject to prior notice.
The Gymkhana Club’s land has its roots in a perpetual lease granted in 1928. Notably, Clause 4 of the lease agreement empowers the lessor, in this case, the Central government, to reclaim the property if deemed necessary for public purposes.
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The current eviction proceedings are not the first legal challenge faced by the club. In 2022, the Central government initiated proceedings with the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), citing alleged violations of the lease terms and instances of mismanagement. The NCLT ruled in favor of the government, authorizing the appointment of 15 government-nominated members to oversee the club’s operations. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) subsequently upheld this decision, further complicating the club’s legal standing.
As the date approaches for the High Court’s hearing, all eyes are on Justice Avneesh Jhingan’s courtroom, where the fate of the Delhi Gymkhana Club hangs in the balance amid these contentious legal proceedings.
