'Shocked' members mull legal action after Centre asks Delhi Gymkhana to vacate premises by June 5

New Delhi: The Centre directing the Gymkhana Club in Lutyens' Delhi to hand over its premises by June 5 has left many of its members fuming, with some mulling over taking legal recourse to challenge the order, and others calling it unexpected for an institution they have been associated with for decades.

Siddhart, a member of Delhi Gymkhana located on 2, Safdarjung Road, close to the prime minister's residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, said the club would challenge the order through an appeal, asserting 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.

Also Read: Centre asks Delhi Gymkhana Club to hand over premises by June 5

"As a member, I feel the observations made in the order should be reconsidered. Such a situation should not have arisen," he added.

Asked about the deadline to vacate the premises, Siddhart said the club would comply if a court issued an order.

The order issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs stated that the 27.3-acre land parcel, located in a highly sensitive and strategic area of Delhi, is critically required to strengthen and secure defence infrastructure and for other vital public security purposes.

According to the order, the premises will be taken over by the L&DO on June 5.

"You are directed to hand over peaceful possession of the premises to the representatives of this office on the aforesaid date. In the event of non-compliance, possession shall be taken in accordance with law," it said.

Major Atul Dev (retd), who has been a member of the club for the past 60 years, said he will challenge the order in court.

"I have received at least 50 calls since morning as the news came as a big surprise to all of us. We are going to challenge the order legally. We are working on it," he said.

The club currently has around 11,000 members, including government servants, he said.

Another member, Brigadier Harinder Pal Singh Bedi (retd), said the order came as a shock to many members.

"I became a member of Delhi Gymkhana in 2006 after a 12-year waiting period while serving in the Army. I paid around Rs 60,000 as the membership fee, which now runs into lakhs of rupees. This order has surprised us to say the least," Bedi said.

He also said that the order has left the future of the staff in limbo, as they have less than two weeks to prepare for their next move.

"I will go to the club on May 26... Who knows, I might not get another chance," Bedi said.

Originally founded on July 3, 1913, as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club, the institution was established to serve colonial administrators and military officers.

The word 'Imperial' was dropped after India gained Independence in 1947, while the existing structures were constructed in the 1930s.

In its letter to the club's secretary dated May 22, the L&DO said the premises were leased to the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd for the specific purpose of maintaining a social and sporting club.

The land is essential to fulfil urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public-interest projects, integrated with the resumption of the adjoining government lands, it said.

"In exercise of the powers conferred under Clause 4 of the lease deed, the President of India, through the Land and Development Office, hereby determines the lease and orders re-entry of the aforesaid premises with immediate effect," the order said.

"Upon such re-entry, the entire plot of land measuring 27.3 acres, along with all buildings, standing erections, structures, lawns, and fittings thereon, shall vest absolutely in the lessor, i.e., the President of India, through the Land and Development Office," it added.