India Cancels Delhi Gymkhana Club's 27-Acre Lease, Orders June 5 Handover
Updated
Updated · Bloomberg · May 29
India Cancels Delhi Gymkhana Club's 27-Acre Lease, Orders June 5 Handover
7 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 29
India's Housing Ministry this month revoked the Delhi Gymkhana Club's lease and told the elite New Delhi institution to surrender its 27-acre site by June 5.
The government says the land, next to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence, sits in a "sensitive and strategic area" that it needs to reclaim for public use.
The move has triggered a fight among Delhi's old elite over one of India's most storied colonial-era clubs, even as many younger and newly wealthy Indians appear largely indifferent.
A Delhi High Court had already declined to halt the eviction in an earlier challenge, leaving the club under mounting pressure as Modi's government pushes ahead.
Is seizing the Delhi Gymkhana about national security or a symbolic war on India's 'old elite'?
From elite clubs to tribal islands, is India redefining 'public interest' to justify land acquisition?
After ousting the old guard, will the government-run Gymkhana Club simply serve a new political elite?
Delhi Gymkhana Club Faces Eviction: 27.3 Acres at Stake Amid National Security and Legal Showdown
Overview
As of May 29, 2026, the Delhi Gymkhana Club is under pressure from the Central government to vacate its historic premises, with the government citing national security needs and issuing a June deadline for departure. While the government insists it will follow legal procedures and has shown openness to discussing alternative land for the club, the situation remains tense. The Delhi High Court is actively involved, hearing multiple suits from club members and employees, highlighting the legal complexities and the uncertain future of the club. This dispute reflects a broader struggle between government authority and private institutions over land and public interest.