New Delhi, May 26 -- The Union government told the Delhi high court on Tuesday that it would not forcibly take possession of the 113-year-old Delhi Gymkhana Club on 5 June and that taking over the premises would be done only in accordance with the procedure established by law.

A bench of Justice Avneesh Jhingan recorded the government's statement and noted that the assurance was satisfactory. The court passed an order observing that no further directions were required at this stage and granted interim protection to club members who challenged the government's eviction notice.

The order was passed during the hearing of petitions challenging the Centre's eviction notice directing the club to hand over its 27.3-acre Safdarjung Road premise...