Delhi Gymkhana Club Lease Dispute: Court Issues Summons to Centre, Assures Due Process

The Delhi High Court has summoned the Centre over its attempt to reclaim the Delhi Gymkhana Club via lease termination. The Court emphasized that any eviction will follow legal protocols, denying interim protection for now. Centre's motives and legal validity of the lease clause remain contested.

The Delhi High Court intervened in the ongoing Delhi Gymkhana Club lease dispute, summoning the Centre and the Club's management. The case challenges the government's move to reclaim the prestigious premises on Safdarjung Road, invoking the lease's terms surrounding public use.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that the government's May 22 document was not an immediate eviction order but to terminate the perpetual lease and seeking re-entry. The court refrained from issuing any interim orders, seeking written statements from involved parties within eight weeks to proceed with the case.

The long-standing dispute involves complexities such as public purpose justification and prior legal actions. Senior advocates representing the Club's members contested the Centre's move, questioning the legal grounds and clarity of the alleged public purpose. The court has left room for these legal intricacies to be addressed in subsequent proceedings.