Supreme Court asks High Court to consider plea against Centre’s decision to take over Delhi Gymkhana Club

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) asked the Delhi High Court to consider a plea by 11 members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club, who had challenged the Centre's decision to take over the club's 27.3-acre premises and the subsequent eviction proceedings.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana was told by senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the members, that the Delhi High Court had refused to entertain their plea on the ground that only the club could challenge the Centre's decision. Mr. Singh said the High Court had asked the members to get a clarification from the Supreme Court that they could also move the plea there.

The Court permitted them to move the High Court, subject to objections that may be raised by the other side regarding maintainability and other legal oppositions.

Mr. Singh, appearing for the 11 members, had earlier told the Bench that a Central government-nominated committee was presently managing the club, and that it could not fight a legal battle with the government.

On September 3, 2026, the Centre, in a separate case, told the Delhi High Court that it would not take any coercive action until September 16, 2026, against the club in relation to its eviction from the premises on Safdarjung Road.

The High Court was hearing pleas by club member Vijay Khurana and others, seeking a stay on the June 29, 2026, show-cause notice for eviction issued to the club's management by an estate officer of the Land and Development Office (L&DO).

Vipin Aggarwal and ten other club members, in their petition filed through lawyer Nitin Saluja, sought the quashing of the resumption notification issued by the L&DO on May 22, 2026, and the show-cause notice issued by the estate officer on June 29, 2026.