Delhi HC Seeks Centre's Stand on Eviction of Central Secretariat Club
The Delhi High Court has issued notice to the Central government on a petition filed by the Central Secretariat Club challenging the revocation of its recognition and an eviction order directing it to immediately vacate its premises near the President’s Estate.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma asked the Centre to submit its response to the plea filed by the 107-year-old institution, formerly known as the Talkatora Club. The court listed the matter for its next hearing on August 24.
The club approached the high court challenging an eviction order issued by the Estate Officer. During the proceedings, the petitioner’s counsel urged the court to pass an interim order directing status quo, arguing that "nothing would be left" if protection was not granted. Justice Sharma declined to grant the interim relief, stating, "I don’t think so. List on August 24."
In its petition, the club submitted that the Department of Personnel and Training had arbitrarily, illegally, and unconstitutionally withdrawn the recognition granted to it on July 14. The petitioner stated that authorities had previously withdrawn its recognition in February without issuing any show-cause notice, rather than taking corrective measures regarding complaints of irregularities during the term of an ad hoc committee managing the club's affairs.
Following a previous court intervention, the club was provided a hearing, after which a fresh derecognition order was issued on July 14, followed by an eviction order on July 17.
The petition argued that both orders were arbitrary, malicious, unconstitutional, and represented a colourable exercise of administrative power. The plea contended that the respondents were attempting to weaponise their administrative failures and the actions of the ad hoc committee to forcefully dispossess and extinguish a historic institution, in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution and principles of natural justice.
The petitioner further stated that the eviction order arbitrarily treated the historic club, which had been granted permanent occupancy, as an "unauthorised occupant" based entirely on the cancellation of its allotment.
