NEW DELHI, May 25 -- The general committee overseeing the Delhi Gymkhana Club on Monday urged the Centre not to disrupt the functioning of the institution until clarity emerges on issues including its proposed relocation and protection of employees, amid growing uncertainty over the future of the century-old club after the government directed it to vacate its premises in Lutyens' Delhi by June 5.
In a letter sent to the Land and Development Office (L&DO), the committee constituted by the Government of India requested the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the L&DO to consider allotting an alternative plot for relocation in case the takeover proceeds.
The committee said the interests of members, employees and other stakeholders should be protected before any decision affecting the club's operations is implemented. It also sought safeguards for nearly 600 employees associated with the institution.
The L&DO, under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, had directed the club to hand over its 27.3-acre Safdarjung Road premises, stating that the land was required for "urgent institutional needs, governance infrastructure and public interest project", including strengthening defence-related infrastructure.
Meanwhile, club management assured concerned employees on Monday that their jobs were secure and that the club would not shut down immediately, amid rising anxiety among staff members who said they had received little formal communication regarding salaries, relocation plans or future employment.
On Monday morning, a group of employees gathered at a small shrine dedicated to 'Pir Baba' near the club premises and prayed for a favourable outcome as uncertainty over livelihoods deepened inside the institution.
Soon afterwards, staff members said they were informed by members of the general committee that legal and administrative efforts were underway to protect employee interests.
"We received a call from club president Malay Sinha and director Kuldeep Chahal during the day. They assured us that our concerns had been conveyed to the government through a special written note and that discussions were underway," Nandan Singh Negi, president of the Gymkhana Employee Welfare Association, said.
Negi added that the management had assured employees that the club would not close on June 5 and that their jobs were secure.
Employees expressed panic over job uncertainty and possible legal action, while members defended the club's heritage value and cited administrative and financial improvements.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.