Supreme Court Allows Delhi Gymkhana Club Members to Move HC Against Centre Takeover
The Supreme Court has allowed 11 Delhi Gymkhana Club members to approach the Delhi High Court against the Centre’s takeover and eviction proceedings.
The Supreme Court has allowed 11 members of the Delhi Gymkhana Club to approach the Delhi High Court against the Centre’s decision to take over the club’s 27.3-acre premises and subsequent eviction proceedings.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant allowed the members to pursue their plea before the High Court, while making it clear that the Centre and other parties can raise objections over maintainability and other legal grounds.
The members had approached the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court earlier declined to entertain their challenge, holding that the club itself could contest the Centre’s decision.
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the members, told the Supreme Court that the club was being managed by a committee nominated by the Centre and therefore could not independently challenge the government’s action.
The members are seeking to challenge a resumption notification issued by the Land and Development Office on May 22 and a June 29 show-cause notice concerning the club’s premises on Safdarjung Road.
The Centre had earlier told the Delhi High Court that it would not take coercive action until September 16 in connection with the eviction proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s latest order does not decide the merits of the members’ challenge. Those issues, along with maintainability objections, will now be considered by the Delhi High Court.
