New Delhi: The Delhi Gymkhana Club (DGC) is gearing up for a series of legal battles in the Delhi High Court challenging the Centre’s order to hand over 27.3 acres of the club’s valuable land to its permanent members and employees. Many members rejected the government’s argument that the club is located on a “highly sensitive and strategic area” and that it would be used in the future to “strengthen and secure defense infrastructure and other critical public security objectives”.Club members said senior lawyer and Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi has been appointed to represent the members of the DGC, which has been at 2, Safdarjung Road for over 113 years. Two petitions are likely to be filed – one by the members and the other by the club’s approximately 600 employees.A day after the Land and Development Office (L&DO), which comes under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, had directed the DGC to hand over its entire premises – all its buildings, structures, lawns and fittings – the permanent members of the club held a marathon meeting on Sunday evening to decide on the legal course of action. L&DO has asked DGC to vacate the premises by June 5 by prematurely terminating the “permanent lease”.On Saturday, a government-appointed general committee (GC) had informed club members that it would meet ministry officials and seek clarity on issues of interest to members and employees. However, a person involved in the deliberations said, “What will the government-appointed committee say to the government against its order? Therefore, the only option we have is to approach the court. There is a lack of transparency and ethical issues related to the future of the employees.” We also resolved to tell the people at large that most of the members are pensioners.Meanwhile, it is learned that the GC had written to the L&DO on Sunday urging it not to consider any disestablishment until there is clarity about the issues – if there is any plan to allot a replacement plot, consider the investment made in improving the infrastructure and facilities and the safety of all staff and employees of the club.General PK Sehgal (retd), who has been associated with the club since 1972, said the members have unanimously decided to legally challenge the expulsion order. The “sudden decision” to take back the land has raised concerns among members about the future of the club and where the club will be relocated, he said.Expressing concern about the future of the club and its staff, given the risk of losing livelihoods, public figures including Kiran Bedi, India’s first female IPS officer and former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, called the government’s move “sad and unfortunate”, while some members alleged that the official reasons mentioned in the order were “frivolous”.A former DGC general secretary said, “The club has been there since the 1930s and the PM residence was shifted to the present location in 1984. If there was any security issue, the PM residence would not have been shifted. There have been no problems in the last 42 years.”On Sunday, Gymkhana Employees Welfare Association also protested against the government’s decision. “Our slums are already being demolished, we have been working here for 25-26 years, our only source of income is being taken away, where will we go now?” asked an employee. Association president Nandan Singh Negi said, “The employees are in despair, they are worried about their families.”Nitin Verma, a member, said the government wanted to close the club on “hypothetical” grounds. He said, “The utmost discipline is maintained here… everyone is checked… now even the Prime Minister’s residence is being shifted. What is the security concern in this? Because nothing has happened till now. I think it is just imaginary.”In a post on X, Kiran Bedi said she hoped the proposal would be reconsidered and said that late Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had built a new pool during his lifetime and excellent tennis matches have been played here. “So much history, so many memories and generations of sporting excellence are linked to this place. The DGC is not just a property – it is part of our institutional and sporting heritage. Change may be necessary, but the history and legacy deserve thoughtful preservation. We may also plan to add something new there,” he said.Some members also accused the government of not giving enough time and not paying attention to the future of the club’s employees. Sehgal said that 600 employees are in danger of losing their jobs due to the government order without any prior warning or advance notice. However, ministry officials said proper procedure has been followed and the order has been issued giving two weeks’ time.Former diplomat KC Singh said it was “unsustainable” to “destroy” the club. He said the club is also famous for its tennis and squash facilities apart from its other services. Tagging Kiran Bedi, he said that DGC is a storehouse of sports, services and cultural memories.Former club president and former RAW chief AS Dulat said the members are disappointed with the development and have decided to file a petition against the move, signatures for which are being collected.Historian Swapna Liddle said that until 1945 the club was essentially a British club only for officers and a certain class. He said that Indians started getting admission into the club in 1945 and after independence its identity developed a lot. “One of the interesting things that happened around independence was that parties were being organized in the club for bureaucrats and armed personnel who were going to Pakistan. These were people who were in the same service, and now they were all moving apart. A lot of the parties held at that time were farewell parties for people going to Pakistan,” she said.