politics
India Orders Delhi Gymkhana Club to Vacate Premises by June 5
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs directed the Delhi Gymkhana Club to hand over its site in central New Delhi by 5 June. The government cited urgent needs for defence and security infrastructure. The club was founded in 1913 under British colonial rule.
May 23, 8:51 AM·1m read1 source
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India’s Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has ordered the Delhi Gymkhana Club to vacate its premises in central New Delhi by 5 June. The directive was issued in a letter to the club’s secretary, according to the Press Trust of India. The ministry stated that the land, located next to the prime minister’s residence, is required for defence infrastructure and other public security purposes.
The club was established in 1913 as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club during British colonial rule.
After India’s independence in 1947, the club became a networking venue for politicians, senior bureaucrats, judges and business figures. It maintains long waiting lists and remains one of the most sought-after memberships in the capital. The club has faced internal disputes and allegations of financial mismanagement in recent years.
Figures linked to the Bharatiya Janata Party have accused its leadership of factionalism and poor governance. The land transfer order follows a broader government effort, underway since 2014, to repurpose colonial-era sites for public projects.
