Delhi Gymkhana Eviction Row Raises Livelihood Concerns for 700 Workers

The Delhi Gymkhana Workers' Association has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to safeguard the livelihoods of nearly 700 employees as the iconic Delhi Gymkhana Club faces possible eviction over an ongoing lease dispute with the Centre.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the association said the proposed eviction has created fear and uncertainty among both permanent and contractual employees , many of whom have dedicated more than a decade of service to the club. It said most workers belong to middle- and lower-middle-income families and depend entirely on the club for their livelihood. Several employees are repaying housing, education and personal loans, while supporting dependent family members. The association warned that any disruption to the club's functioning would push hundreds of families into financial hardship and adversely affect their children's education and well-being.

The workers have urged the government to ensure that they do not become collateral victims of a legal dispute over which they have no control. Rather than opposing the government's claim over the property, the association has sought employment security , requesting protection of jobs and workers' interests irrespective of the outcome of the case.

The controversy stems from action initiated by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs , which issued a show-cause notice to the club on June 29 asking why an eviction order should not be passed under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971 , citing alleged violations of the lease deed.

The dispute involves the club's 27.3-acre property on Safdarjung Road in central Delhi. Founded in 1913 as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club , the institution moved to its present premises in 1928 under a perpetual lease granted during the British era. Renamed after Independence, the club has since remained one of India's most prestigious social institutions, with members including senior bureaucrats, diplomats, military officers, judges, politicians and business leaders.

Earlier, on May 26 , the Centre informed the Delhi High Court that it would not take forceful possession of the property by June 5 and would instead follow the due legal process. The government has maintained that the land is required for strengthening and securing defence infrastructure and other public purposes.

The Delhi Gymkhana Club , along with its members and staff representatives, has challenged the lease termination and subsequent eviction proceedings before the Delhi High Court , arguing that the legality of the lease cancellation is still under judicial review and that eviction should not proceed until the matter is decided.

The case has sparked a broader debate over the future of colonial-era institutions occupying prime public land and the need to balance public infrastructure priorities with the livelihoods of long-serving employees. The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear the matter on July 28 , while the L&DO has fixed July 30 for a personal hearing before taking a final decision on the show-cause notice. Until then, the future of the century-old club and the employment of its nearly 700 workers remains uncertain.