A century-old private club in India’s capital faces potential closure after government officials demanded it abandon the prestigious location it has called home since British colonial times, setting off a court fight and public discussion about privilege among India’s wealthy elite.
The Delhi Gymkhana Club has operated continuously since 1913 on a sprawling property adjacent to where the prime minister lives in central New Delhi. The facility features an expansive complex of elegant buildings and perfectly maintained grounds, complete with teakwood furnishings, leather seating, and large artwork adorning the walls.
While the organization and government officials have previously disagreed over how the club is run, authorities issued a notice last Friday demanding return of the leased property, pointing to security concerns and infrastructure requirements.
Through a legal filing exceeding 900 pages that Reuters reviewed, a coalition of club members and staff petitioned the Delhi High Court to stop the action while their legal challenge proceeds.
According to court documents Reuters examined, the government seeks to “illegally gain possession of a hundred-year-old institution in a period of 15 days.”
During Tuesday’s court session, the club’s legal representative asked the judge to block authorities from taking forceful measures, while government attorneys stated no removal would occur without proper procedures. The judge scheduled the next hearing for July.
The exclusive venue serves as a gathering place for high-ranking government workers, military leaders, and influential corporate executives, with membership waiting periods extending over three decades. The Delhi Gymkhana Club has also been the setting for elaborate celebrations, including wedding parties for children of the capital’s wealthy families.
The private facility provides recreational amenities such as an indoor pool and tennis courts with both clay and grass surfaces. Multiple dining establishments and bars operate within the club, which maintains strict clothing requirements that prohibit round-neck T-shirts.
The organization relocated to its present 27-acre location two years following Britain’s designation of New Delhi as India’s capital city.
The conflict with government officials has generated discussion across social media platforms and television broadcasts, with some critics questioning whether such exclusive organizations should exist on subsidized government property, while supporters argue the club provides important cultural and recreational value.
“If ‘elite privilege’ is suddenly the issue . . . why not also question sprawling ministerial residences, endless VIP (very important person) convoys, private aircraft and the entire ecosystem of taxpayer-funded political privilege?” one user wrote on X.
