Court seeks govt's reply on pleas challenging Delhi Gymkhana eviction notice
The Delhi High Court issued a notice to the government on applications seeking a pause in the Delhi Gymkhana eviction proceedings. It also asked the Solicitor General to ensure that the hearing is deferred until July 28.
The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the government's response to petitions filed by members and employees of the Delhi Gymkhana Club challenging a show-cause notice proposing their eviction from the club's 27.3-acre premises on Safdarjung Road.
Justice Avneesh Jhingan issued a notice to the government on applications seeking a pause in the eviction proceedings. The court also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that the hearing before the Estate Officer, scheduled for Tuesday, is deferred until after the High Court takes up the matter again on July 28.
During the hearing, Mehta informed the court that the Centre would file its response to the stay applications and suggested that the petitioners could seek an adjournment before the Estate Officer.
Justice Jhingan, however, asked the law officer to ensure that the proceedings before the Estate Officer are postponed beyond the next date of hearing in the High Court.
The latest applications form part of an ongoing legal challenge by petitioner Vijay Khurana and the Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd Staff Welfare Association against the Land and Development Office's May 22 order terminating the club's perpetual lease and directing it to hand over possession of the land by June 5.
The Centre has maintained that the land is required for strengthening and securing defence infrastructure.
On June 29, the Land and Development Office, under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, issued a fresh show-cause notice under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, asking why an eviction order should not be passed against the club and all other occupants.
The notice, issued by Estate Officer Bipin Kumar Singh, directed the occupants to submit their replies by July 7 and appear for a personal hearing later the same day.
The eviction proceedings came despite the Centre informing the High Court on May 26 that it would not take forcible possession of the premises by the June 5 deadline.
At the time, Solicitor General Mehta had assured the court that the government would proceed strictly in accordance with the due process of law.
With the latest order, the High Court has sought the Centre's stand on the challenge to the eviction notice while ensuring that no parallel proceedings before the Estate Officer move ahead before the court hears the matter again on July 28.
The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the government's response to petitions filed by members and employees of the Delhi Gymkhana Club challenging a show-cause notice proposing their eviction from the club's 27.3-acre premises on Safdarjung Road.
Justice Avneesh Jhingan issued a notice to the government on applications seeking a pause in the eviction proceedings. The court also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ensure that the hearing before the Estate Officer, scheduled for Tuesday, is deferred until after the High Court takes up the matter again on July 28.
During the hearing, Mehta informed the court that the Centre would file its response to the stay applications and suggested that the petitioners could seek an adjournment before the Estate Officer.
Justice Jhingan, however, asked the law officer to ensure that the proceedings before the Estate Officer are postponed beyond the next date of hearing in the High Court.
The latest applications form part of an ongoing legal challenge by petitioner Vijay Khurana and the Delhi Gymkhana Club Ltd Staff Welfare Association against the Land and Development Office's May 22 order terminating the club's perpetual lease and directing it to hand over possession of the land by June 5.
The Centre has maintained that the land is required for strengthening and securing defence infrastructure.
On June 29, the Land and Development Office, under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, issued a fresh show-cause notice under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, asking why an eviction order should not be passed against the club and all other occupants.
The notice, issued by Estate Officer Bipin Kumar Singh, directed the occupants to submit their replies by July 7 and appear for a personal hearing later the same day.
The eviction proceedings came despite the Centre informing the High Court on May 26 that it would not take forcible possession of the premises by the June 5 deadline.
At the time, Solicitor General Mehta had assured the court that the government would proceed strictly in accordance with the due process of law.
With the latest order, the High Court has sought the Centre's stand on the challenge to the eviction notice while ensuring that no parallel proceedings before the Estate Officer move ahead before the court hears the matter again on July 28.
