The Union government on Friday started the process of taking back the land leased to the Delhi Gymkhana Club 98 years ago, saying the 27.3 acre-plot was required for “strengthening and securing Defence infrastructure”.

The Land and Development Office under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs wrote to the Club’s Secretary on Friday initiating the “re-entry and resumption of premises comprising Delhi Gymkhana Club, 2, Safdarjung Road, New Delhi”. As per Clause 4 of the lease deed, the premises can be re-entered, which means that the government can take back the leased property, if it or any part of it is required for a public purpose.

The club has operated from this location since 1913 and its 14,000 members include the elite of Delhi — from political leaders to top businesspersons, and members of the bureaucracy, judiciary and armed forces.

In its letter, the L&DO said the premises were located in a highly sensitive and strategic area and was “critically required for strengthening and securing of Defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposes. The land is essential to fulfil urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure, and public-interest projects, integrated with the resumption of adjoining government lands,” the L&DO said, referring to the recent removal of slums from the nearby Race Course Road. The club is also located near the Prime Minister’s official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg.

The L&DO asked for the premises to be handed over on June 5, failing which “possession shall be taken in accordance with law”.

Since April 2022, the club has been run by a government-appointed General Committee, after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) allowed the government to take over the administration of the club.

Among the reasons cited by the government to take back the prime real estate near the Prime Minister’s residence are the need to secure and strengthen defence infra, and to “fulfil urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure, and public-interest projects”.

In a statement, the club’s officiating secretary, Rajesh Bhatnagar said on Saturday the club had received the letter from the L&DO on Friday.

“Pursuant to the sudden development, the GC (General Committee) today met on an urgent basis and after detailed deliberation decided to write an immediate response to L&DO requesting clarity on several issues in the interest of the members and employees of the Club. The communication also requests for an urgent appointment for the GC members to meet with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs officials. The immediate priority of the GC is to ensure that the operations of the Club continue without dislocation,” he said.

Gaurav M. Liberhan, the advocate who represented the last-elected management body of the club in the proceedings in the NCLT and the Supreme Court, said: “We will be taking legal remedies in accordance with law.”

The club has around 500 employees, according to an office-bearer.

This isn’t the first time that the club and the Union government have had a run-in. In 2020, the Union Corporate Affairs Ministry had moved the National Company Law Tribunal seeking regulation, saying that the club was being run in violation of norms. In 2022, the NCLT ordered that the government may appoint directors to the general committee of the club to take over the administration.

In 1913, this club was called the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club. After Independence, it was renamed Delhi Gymkhana Club. The present buildings were constructed in the 1930s, after the land was given on perpetual lease in 1928.