Nehru Govt Tried To Demolish Gymkhana Club In 1956 — Here's Full Story Behind India's Oldest Elite Row
Nehru Govt Tried To Demolish Gymkhana Club In 1956 — Here's Full Story Behind India's Oldest Elite Row Published By, Edited By Last Updated: May
Nehru Govt Tried To Demolish Gymkhana Club In 1956 — Here's Full Story Behind India's Oldest Elite Row Published By, Edited By Last Updated: May 27, 2026, 14:50 IST The current row is just the latest chapter in a dispute that began in 1956 and has never fully ended A colonial-era club, disputed government land, and 70 years of unresolved fights — that's the Gymkhana Club row in a line. (File image/PTI) Delhi’s Gymkhana Club is not just an elite address — it is where power, privilege and controversy have coexisted for decades. As the central government tightens its grip on the club once again, old files are resurfacing from government offices, and they tell a remarkable story: the Gymkhana Club and the state have been at war for nearly 70 years. A Timeline Of Trouble • 1956: The Land and Development Office (L&DO) sends the club its very first notice, directing it to remove unauthorised constructions within the premises. Few could have imagined the dispute would stretch across seven decades. • 1980: The ‘Empire Store’ operating inside the club is demolished after the government charges the club with using its premises for commercial activity — a clear violation of its lease terms. • 2000: L&DO escalates sharply, issuing an order to take “peaceful possession" of the property. The government warns that under the lease deed, the entire land and all structures on it could revert to state control. • 2001: The ‘Jumbo Shop’ inside the club is shut down following government action.
• 2001–2002: The dispute takes its most dramatic turn yet. Delhi Police flags over 150 servant quarters inside the club premises — located in close proximity to the Prime Minister’s residence — as a serious security threat, describing them in a confidential letter as being in a “most probable area of threat." • 2004: The club pays a fine of approximately ₹74.22 lakh. Of this, ₹38.16 lakh is specifically for illegal constructions; separate penalties are levied for running the Empire Store and Jumbo Shop. • Post-2004: A negotiated settlement is reached on the PM security issue. The club agrees to demolish the staff quarters; the government provides alternative land in Molarbund on Delhi’s outskirts. The club funds the rehabilitation project — approximately ₹81.88 lakh — and the vacated area is converted into a green belt. • 2009: L&DO finally withdraws the ‘re-entry order,’ calling off the threat of government takeover. The club withdraws its petition from the Delhi High Court after paying regularisation charges. The Security Angle: The Most Explosive Chapter The PM security episode remains the sharpest moment in this long dispute. According to former Additional Solicitor General Vikas Singh, who was involved at the time, the security concern was real and serious — but the matter was eventually resolved through mutual agreement rather than confrontation. The club agreed to vacate; the government provided alternative land. A rare instance of the two sides actually settling something cleanly. Why Did It Never Fully End? Every time a dispute was resolved, a new one emerged within a few years.
Fines were paid, structures were demolished, court petitions were filed and withdrawn — and yet the underlying tension between the club and the government never disappeared. The current row, therefore, does not come from nowhere. It arrives with seven decades of contested history behind it. When did the Delhi Gymkhana Club receive its first government notice? The club received its first notice in 1956 from the Land and Development Office (L&DO), directing it to remove allegedly unauthorised constructions within its premises. That single notice became the seed of a dispute that has lasted nearly seven decades. What were the most serious charges against the Gymkhana Club? Three main allegations drove the conflict: illegal construction within the premises, commercial activity in violation of lease terms (through the Empire Store and Jumbo Shop), and — most seriously — creating a security risk near the Prime Minister’s residence through staff quarters that Delhi Police described in a confidential letter as being in the “most probable area of threat." Did the government ever come close to taking over the club’s land? Yes — in 2000, L&DO issued an order to take “peaceful possession" of the property, warning that all land and structures on it could revert to the government under the lease deed. The action was eventually halted after the club paid fines and reached a settlement, and in 2009 the government formally withdrew its re-entry order. How was the PM security dispute resolved? Through a negotiated settlement. The club agreed to demolish over 150 staff quarters near the PM’s residence, and the government provided alternative land in Molarbund on the outskirts of Delhi.
The club funded the rehabilitation — approximately ₹81.88 lakh — and the vacated land was converted into a green belt. Additional Solicitor General Vikas Singh, who was involved at the time, confirmed the matter was resolved through mutual agreement rather than court proceedings. How much has the club paid in fines over the years? In 2004 alone, the club paid approximately ₹74.22 lakh — ₹38.16 lakh for illegal constructions and separate penalties for the Empire Store and Jumbo Shop. It also spent around ₹81.88 lakh on the staff quarters rehabilitation project, bringing the documented financial cost of these disputes to well over ₹1.5 crore. Watch more videos Share this Article WhatsApp facebook Twitter telegram copy link News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit First Published: May 27, 2026, 14:50 IST News cities new-delhi-news Nehru Govt Tried To Demolish Gymkhana Club In 1956 — Here's Full Story Behind India's Oldest Elite Row Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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