New Delhi: The Union government on Monday (June 29) sent an eviction notice to the Delhi Gymkhana Club saying that it has remained in possession of club premises on Safdarjung Road without authorisation after its lease expired on May 22.The notice was issued under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupant) Act, 1971. It asked for the Club’s representative to appear before the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs for a hearing on July 7.This is the latest attempt by the Modi-led Union government to get the club premises vacated.‘Valuable public premises’The notice said that the club premises “constitute valuable public premises vested in the Union of India and the Government is under an obligation to regulate, protect and utilise such public property in accordance with public interest and public purpose”. It also said that the lease allows the government to resume possession if the land is required for a public purpose.“Despite lawful determination of the lease and despite being called upon to hand over possession, the respondent failed to vacate the premises and continues in occupation thereof… Because valuable government land situated in the National Capital cannot be permitted to remain under unauthorised occupation contrary to governmental determination and larger public interest,” Monday’s notice said.In a letter sent to the Club on May 22, the L&DO said the land was needed for defence infrastructure, public security requirements, governance infrastructure and other public-interest projects. The government said it had already asked the club to vacate the premises but that it had continued to occupy the property despite the lease being determined.The club then moved the Delhi high court challenging the government order. On May 26, the court refused to stay the eviction process. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that the government would proceed in accordance with the law.While the club has not officially responded to the eviction notice, anonymous sources among the office bearers of the club told the Indian Express, “Since the matter is sub-judice, suffice it to say that all members and office-bearers concerned are awaiting ongoing judicial proceedings in the matter. In the meantime, the Club remains functional and efforts are being made to accommodate its existing staff members and related workforce in gainful employment elsewhere.”The Club has been run by a government-appointed General Committee since 2022 after the National Company Law Tribunal permitted the Union government to take over its management following allegations of irregularities and violations of norms.Gaurav M. Liberhan, who represented the Club’s last elected governing body before the National Company Law Tribunal and the Supreme Court, said the members would examine the legal options available to them.