NEW DELHI — The Delhi Gymkhana Club has formally communicated with the central government seeking an appropriately located alternative plot, while cautioning that any precipitate action against the institution would adversely affect numerous stakeholders including its staff and members, according to reports.
The correspondence from the members-only club comes amid ongoing scrutiny of land allotments to various elite clubs in the national capital. The Delhi Gymkhana Club, established in 1913, occupies prime real estate in Lutyens' Delhi and has been a subject of debate regarding the utilization of government land by private clubs. The institution has historically served as a social and recreational facility for civil servants, armed forces personnel, and other prominent members of society.
The club's letter highlights concerns about the implications of sudden government intervention, particularly for employees whose livelihoods depend on the establishment's continued operation. The request for an alternate plot suggests the organization is seeking to negotiate a potential relocation rather than face closure or immediate eviction from its current premises.
Several heritage clubs in Delhi have faced questions in recent years about their land use agreements with the government, with authorities examining whether these colonial-era institutions should continue to occupy valuable public land on concessional terms. The matter remains under consideration by relevant government departments.