Delhi's most exclusive club is under threat of shutdown - can it survive?
Summary
The Delhi Gymkhana Club, a historic and exclusive social club in India’s capital, has been ordered by the government to vacate its large 27.3-acre property by June 5. The government wants the land for defense and security purposes, and members are challenging the eviction in court.Key Facts
- The Delhi Gymkhana Club is 113 years old and located on Safdarjung Road in central Delhi.
- The federal government owns the land and has terminated the club’s lease, citing the area as highly sensitive and strategic near the prime minister’s residence.
- The club has traditionally been a gathering place for retired generals, senior bureaucrats, and prominent business families.
- Membership is exclusive, often requiring recommendation by current members, favoring civil servants and defense officers.
- The club was founded in 1913 during British rule and moved to its current site in 1928.
- Its clubhouse was designed in the 1930s by Robert Tor Russell, an architect also known for Connaught Place in Delhi.
- The government’s eviction notice has sparked nostalgia as well as debates about privilege, heritage, and public space in Delhi.
- A court hearing on the club’s eviction challenge is scheduled shortly after the notice.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.