The Delhi High Court has sought the Centre’s response to a plea from the 107 year old Central Secretariat Club. The Club has challenged its derecognition and eviction from its government allotted premises at Park Lane in New Delhi.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma heard the matter on Thursday and asked the Central Government to file a short reply. No one appeared for the Centre during the hearing. The court has listed the matter for August 24.
The Central Secretariat Club, formerly known as Talkatora Club, has entered an eviction dispute with the authorities after the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) withdrew its recognition. The Directorate of Estates then directed the Club to vacate its premises.
Club Challenges Eviction in Delhi High Court
Senior Advocate Diya Kapur represented the Club during the hearing. She argued that the DoPT’s derecognition order lacked legal basis and that the authorities did not give the Club prior notice or a fair opportunity to present its case. Kapur also challenged the eviction order and asked the court to protect the Club’s possession of the premises while it considers the matter.
The court, however, did not grant any interim relief at this stage. Instead, it sought a response from the Centre before taking the matter forward.
Financial Issues Figure in Plea
The Club’s petition also raises questions about the functioning of an ad hoc committee that took charge in March 2023. According to the petition, the committee received a two month mandate to conduct elections but continued to exercise control for almost two years.
The Club has raised several allegations against the committee. It includes delays in GST returns, failure to recover electricity charges and irregularities in bar operations.
The petition also mentions the non-reporting of liquor sales and purchases, the absence of a liquor stock register, alleged non-payment of statutory minimum wages and delays in filing updated income tax TDS returns.
The Club has further alleged a lack of transparency in procurement, prolonged problems with solar panels and payments from its bank account towards the personal litigation of individuals.
Delhi High Court Had Earlier Intervened
The dispute has already reached the Delhi High Court once before. According to the Club’s plea, the DoPT first withdrew its recognition through an office memorandum dated February 24, 2026, without giving the Club a show-cause notice.
The Club then approached the High Court. The court directed the authorities to treat the earlier order as a notice and gave the Club an opportunity to respond. It says it submitted a detailed representation, but the DoPT later issued another derecognition order on July 14.
The Club has now challenged both the fresh derecognition order and the Estate Officer’s eviction order dated July 17.
What Happens Next?
The Club wants the court to quash both orders and allow it to retain possession of its premises.
For now, the Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to respond to the Club’s plea. The court will hear the matter next on August 24.
Read more on ANI.
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