New Delhi, May 23: The Delhi Gymkhana Club, where the city’s powerful and elite rubbed shoulders for nearly a century, stared at possible closure on Saturday with the Centre asking it to return its expansive 27.3 acres by June 5 on grounds of “securing defence infrastructure”.
The sprawling premises, situated at 2, Safdarjung Road, in the heart of leafy Lutyens’ Delhi, were leased to the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd (now known as Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd) for maintaining a social and sporting club.
It stands adjacent to the prime minister’s residence on Lok Kalyan Marg on one of the city’s most valuable and strategically important land parcels, within the high-security administrative zone that also houses several key central government and defence establishments.
An order, issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry on Friday, stated that the premises are critically required for the strengthening and securing of defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposes. The government’s move drew criticism from various quarters.
“Till now, it was the poor who were being affected, so the rich were not too bothered. Then came the turn of shopkeepers, so salaried professionals did not feel affected. Now it is the turn of senior officers and professionals who visit clubs. Everyone’s turn will come eventually,” AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said.
Madras Gymkhana Club president Capt S Seshadri said that it was a sad thing to happen to an institution of such stature. “I am not going to say it’s fair or not fair. It’s beyond my capacity to say that. But I feel sad,” he said. Many members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club said that the order came as a “shock” to them, and they would challenge it in court. (PTI)
