The Delhi Gymkhana Club has firmly declined to vacate its historic 27.3-acre premises at Safdarjung Road immediately and has written to the Centre seeking to continue its operations without any dislocation, after the government issued a re-entry order to return the land to the government.
The club said it held an urgent meeting following the government’s directive and decided to send an immediate response to the Land & Development Office (L&DO). The communication requests written clarity on multiple issues affecting its members and employees and seeks an urgent meeting with officials of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
“The GC (Gymkhana Club) today met on an urgent basis and after detailed deliberation decided to write an immediate response to L&DO requesting clarity on several issues in the interest of the members and employees of the Club. The communication also requests for an urgent appointment for the GC members to meet with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs officials. The immediate priority of the GC is to ensure that the operations of the Club continue without dislocation,” the club said.
Delhi Gymkhana Club- "The GC (Gymkhana Club) today met on an urgent basis and after detailed deliberation decided to write an immediate response to L&DO requesting clarity on several issues in the interest of the members and employees of the Club. The communication also requests… pic.twitter.com/YU5Fpi1ldg
— ANI (@ANI) May 23, 2026
Talking to ANI, club’s member advocate Riya Sachthey said that the centre needs to clarify the order. She said that the order uses the term ‘re-entry’, adding that a layman will not understand what is re-entry.
The club’s letter to the L&DO was in response to the Centre’s order issued on May 22, which invoked Clause 4 of the original lease deed to terminate the lease and demanded handover of the entire property by June 5, 2026. The government cited strategic reasons including defence infrastructure, public security, and urgent public purposes in the sensitive New Delhi area.
Earlier in the day, the club said that it will move court against the govt’s order. Club member Siddharth told the media that the club would challenge the order through an appeal. He asserted that there was no security threat to the premises. “The next step will be to file an appeal against this order. The club is very old and has many members. There is no security threat or any such concern,” he said. However, he added that the club would comply if a court issued an order to vacate.
The Delhi Gymkhana Club, established in 1913 during British rule as the “Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club,” is a premier social and sporting institution on government-leased land, and has been a longstanding landmark in the national capital. After Independence in 1947, the word “Imperial” was removed, and the club became the Delhi Gymkhana Club. Over the decades, it continued to remain closely associated with Delhi’s power circles, including top bureaucrats, diplomats, businessmen, politicians and influential families from Delhi.
The club’s sprawling lawns, colonial-era buildings and tightly controlled membership structure made it a symbol of old establishment privilege. Membership at the club has historically been considered extremely difficult to obtain, with long waiting periods and highly selective entry rules.
