NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday sought the Centre’s response to applications filed by members and staff of the Delhi Gymkhana Club challenging a show-cause notice proposing their eviction from the club’s 27.3-acre premises on Safdarjung Road.Justice Avneesh Jhingan issued notice to the central government on the applications seeking a stay on the operation of the eviction notice. The court also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that the hearing before the Estate Officer, scheduled for July 7, is deferred until after the high court takes up the matter again on July 28.Appearing for the Centre, SG Mehta informed the court that the government would submit its reply to the applications.Referring to the proceedings before the Estate Officer, he said, “They can seek an adjournment there.”Justice Jhingan, however, directed the law officer to ensure that the hearing does not proceed before the High Court has considered the matter. “Mr Mehta, we are keeping this for the date already fixed (in the main case). Just see it (Estate Officer’s hearing) is adjourned beyond that date,” the judge observed.The applications have been moved by club member Vijay Khurana and the Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd Staff Welfare Association as part of their pending challenge to the Land and Development Office’s May 22 decision. The L&DO had terminated the club’s perpetual lease and directed it to hand over possession of the land by June 5, citing the need to strengthen and secure defence infrastructure.On June 29, the L&DO, functioning under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, issued a show-cause notice asking the club to explain why eviction proceedings should not be initiated under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.The notice, issued by Estate Officer Bipin Kumar Singh, directed the club and all other occupants of the premises to file their replies by July 7 and appear for a personal hearing at 2.30 pm the same day.The latest development follows the Centre’s assurance before the Delhi high court on May 26 that it would not take forcible possession of the property by June 5. At the time, the government had maintained that the land was required for “strengthening and securing defence infrastructure”.Mehta had then told the court that the government would take possession of the property only in accordance with the procedure established by law.
