Delhi's 107-year-old Central Secretariat Club approaches HC against eviction order
A 107-year-old institution is at the centre of a legal battle in the Delhi High Court after the Central Secretariat Club challenged the Centre's decision
A 107-year-old institution is at the centre of a legal battle in the Delhi High Court after the Central Secretariat Club challenged the Centre's decision to withdraw its recognition and ordered its eviction from its premises. The Central Secretariat Club has moved the Delhi High Court against the Department of Personnel and Training's (DoPT) derecognition order and a subsequent eviction order issued by the Directorate of Estates. Read Full Story In its petition, the club has alleged that the government is attempting to "forcefully dispossess and extinguish" the historic institution through "arbitrary, malicious and unconstitutional" orders. The club has sought the quashing of the DoPT's derecognition order dated July 14, 2026, and the eviction order dated July 17, 2026, directing it to immediately vacate premises at 07C to 10C, Park Lane, Type 5A, New Delhi, with the order warning that eviction could be carried out using force.
CLUB'S 107-YEAR HISTORY According to the petition, the Central Secretariat Club, formerly known as Talkatora Club, was established in 1919 and is a "premier and long-standing institution". The dispute centres on the administrative control of the club and the functioning of an ad hoc committee constituted by the DoPT in March 2023. According to the petition, the DoPT constituted the committee on March 20, 2023, for a strictly limited period of two months to conduct elections. The move followed complaints concerning the non-conduct of elections, financial and statutory irregularities and allegations of misconduct against the erstwhile General Secretary and Treasurer. However, the club has alleged that the ad hoc committee went beyond its limited mandate and "unlawfully usurped control", continuing to function for nearly two years. The petition alleged that the committee illegally extended its tenure while engaging in gross mismanagement of funds, statutory violations and unauthorised assumption of positions.
CLUB CHALLENGES DERECOGNITION The club said it repeatedly brought the alleged illegalities to the DoPT's notice through several representations. Instead of taking corrective action, the petition alleged, the DoPT initially issued an Office Memorandum on February 24, 2026, withdrawing the club's recognition without issuing a show-cause notice or providing an opportunity of hearing. The club subsequently challenged the action before the Delhi High Court. On April 2, 2026, the court directed that the impugned order be treated merely as a show-cause notice and gave the club an opportunity to file its reply and be heard. The club said it submitted a detailed reply on April 6, 2026, setting out its allegations against the ad hoc committee. Despite this, the DoPT passed a fresh derecognition order on July 14, which the club has described as having been issued in a "pre-determined, mechanical, and malafide manner".
The BriefWire