New Delhi: The Centre assured Delhi High Court Thursday that it won’t take any coercive action till Sept 16 against the iconic Gymkhana Club in connection with its eviction from the 27.3-acre premises on Safdarjung Road.Govt gave the statement before Justice Avneesh Jhingan during the hearing of petitions by a Delhi Gymkhana Club member and others seeking a stay on the June 29 showcause notice for eviction issued to the club’s management by an estate officer of the land and development office (L&DO).The plea by Vijay Khurana and Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd Staff Welfare Association forms part of their pending lawsuit against L&DO’s May 22 order terminating the colonial-era club’s perpetual lease deed and asking it to return the land on grounds of “strengthening and securing defence infrastructure.”Appearing for govt, additional solicitor-general Chetan Sharma said: “We will not take any action in a coercive manner. The (earlier) statement continues. We will not take any coercive action (till the next date).”Senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi, appearing for Khurana, submitted that the pleadings were complete and the issue of interim stay on the eviction notice was “ripe for hearing.”Justice Jhingan, however, said he would keep the matter for arguments on another date and suggested that in the meantime, the members should file their responses before the estate officer where proceedings are on.“What I am intending to do is that before I proceed with it (the interim relief), let him (estate officer) visit this issue…. Whether he should proceed, whether he can proceed. Whatsoever comes out of it, we are still here,” the judge said.Singhvi said the chances of the estate officer ruling in favour of the club members are low and that any reply before the official must be without prejudice to their case in the high court.The high court then posted the matter for hearing on Sept 16.The Centre had earlier contended that the court has no legal power to restrain govt from taking over the club land after the termination of its perpetual lease and issuance of a showcause notice for eviction.On June 29, L&DO under the ministry of housing and urban affairs issued the showcause to the club, asking it to explain why an eviction order should not be passed against it under the Public Premises Act.
