New Delhi: On a day Delhi Gymkhana Club opposed the Centre’s move to take over its premises, Delhi High Court cleared the decks for the eviction of another landmark establishment on Lok Kalyan Marg — the Delhi Race Club (DRC).The court on Tuesday lifted an interim stay against a show-cause notice issued to DRC – which is opposite the Prime Minister’s residence – regarding its eviction from the 84-acre premises, paving the way for the Centre to proceed. A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia set aside a single-judge order on DRC’s petition.“Appeal is allowed and the order dated April 24, 2026, of the single judge so far as it directs the estate officer not to proceed further with the show-cause notice is hereby set aside,” the bench said.The Centre issued a notice to the club on March 13, claiming that its occupation of the premises was unauthorised and sought its peaceful possession as the land was needed for a public purpose.On April 17, the authorities initiated proceedings under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act and issued the show-cause notice to DRC, asking why eviction and recovery of damages should not be done.The club assailed the notice before the single-judge bench, which directed the estate officer not to proceed with the matter till July 30.On Tuesday, the high court said the earlier order lacked any discussion or findings on the aspects of “irreparable loss”, “strong prima facie case”, and “balance of convenience” in favour of the club. “Such a course, in our opinion, was not available” to the single judge, the court said. The bench said the single judge should have given reasons and a finding on the issue , to justify the stay.. Given that the lease ended way back in 1994, “it is a statutory right of the appellant no. 1 (Centre) to invoke the provision of Section 4 of the Public Premises Act,” the court said.The Centre claimed that the 1926 lease deed was not perpetual in nature. As no extension was granted, the club’s occupation of the land was unauthorised, it said.
