NEW DELHI: Amid the controversy over a government order to take over the Delhi Gymkhana Club (DGC) premises, it has come to light that the Land and Development Office (L&DO) had written three letters to the club management since September last year to clear around Rs 48 crore in rent that DGC owed to it.
The latest notice was issued last month, barely weeks before L&DO issued the eviction order, which TOI reported on Sunday.
Some club members said they were not intimated about the pending due earlier. “Only a few weeks back there was a discussion on how to deal with this. If there was a long-pending due, the government-appointed general committee (GC) managing the affairs of the club should have paid it,” said a former DGC president.
There was no response to queries sent to two government-appointed GC members on why the due was not paid and club members were not informed.
People aware of the development said the last letter had mentioned that failure to pay the due within seven days would constrain L&DO to initiate re-entry (take back) proceedings for the premises.
Meanwhile, the GC has written to the L&DO to consider that “there should be no dislocation” of the club and its operation until there is clarity on issues. It sought to know whether there was any plan to allocate a substitute plot and urged the government to consider this.
The GC also suggested the government consider the investment made towards improving infrastructure and facilities, and the cost for building fresh facilities in case of relocation. It urged L&DO to protect the interests of employees and staff.
