Centre tells Delhi High Court no force will be used to vacate Gymkhana Club residents

The Centre on May 26 assured the Delhi High Court that no coercive police action would be taken to forcibly remove residents from quarters inside the Delhi Gymkhana Club amid the ongoing controversy over eviction notices issued to occupants.

The assurance came during a hearing on petitions filed by residents challenging notices asking them to vacate accommodation within the historic club premises.

Representing the Centre, the government informed the court that while the notices remain in place, authorities would not resort to forceful eviction using police personnel.

The dispute relates to residential quarters located inside the Delhi Gymkhana Club, one of the capital’s oldest and most exclusive institutions.

Residents who approached the court argued that several families had been living in the accommodation for years and sought protection from immediate eviction.

The matter gained wider attention earlier this week after reports emerged that occupants had been issued notices directing them to vacate the premises.

The issue has since triggered broader debate around elite institutions operating on public land, long-term occupancy rights and administrative oversight in Lutyens’ Delhi.

During the proceedings, the High Court took note of the Centre’s assurance regarding non-coercive action while hearing submissions from both sides.

The court is expected to continue hearing the matter as residents seek relief against the eviction process.

The Delhi Gymkhana Club has historically been associated with senior bureaucrats, diplomats, military officials and political elites. Established during the British colonial period, the institution remains one of the most prominent social clubs in the national capital.

Over the years, the club has also faced scrutiny over governance, membership practices and use of prime public land.

Supporters of the residents argue that the accommodation forms part of the club’s long-standing institutional culture and social history. Critics, however, say elite clubs operating from government-controlled land must face greater transparency and accountability.

The Centre has in recent years increased oversight over several prominent institutions and clubs situated in high-value areas of the capital.

The High Court is expected to hear the matter further in the coming days.