The Central government has informed the Delhi High Court that there is no proposal to allot the Central Secretariat Club premises to anyone at this stage.
Central Government Standing Counsel (CGSC) Radhika Bishwajit Dubey made the statement before Justice Amit Mahajan on November 5 during the hearing of an application filed by the Club seeking stay on the government’s order of de-recognition and eviction of the club.
“Ms Radhika Bishwajit Dubey, learned CGSC for the respondents, on instructions, submits that there is no proposal to allot the subject premises to any party at this stage. Considering the above, no order is required to be passed. The petitioners are permitted to take away their belongings in next one week,” the Court said in its order.
The case will be heard next on December 21.
The application was filed by the Club in its already pending case challenging the de-recognition and the eviction order.
It stated that the government was in the process of handing over possession of the land to RML Hospital, "thereby confronting this Hon’ble Court with a completed fait accompli" before its petition could be heard.
On March 3, the allotment of the land to the Club was cancelled by the Central government’s Directorate of Estates.
On July 14, the Club was de-recognised by the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions citing constant violations and prima facie evidence of illegitimate and untoward activities. The de-recognition order stated that the Club consistently failed to maintain a meaningful and representative membership base of Central government employees in service.
The order stated that the Club's executive committee is involved in harbouring unauthorised occupants in illegal possession and encroachment of government property. Further, it also stated that there is no legally constituted management committee to run the affairs of the club.
On July 17, the Directorate of Estates issued an eviction notice, directing immediate vacation of the Club from the property.
The Club moved the Court challenging both the orders before the High Court.
Senior Advocate Diya Kapur with advocates Akhil Sachhar, Nakul Gandhi, Darshit Sidhabatti, Anushka Khaitan, Raghav Kumar, Shruti Jain and Naibedya Dash appeared for Central Secretariat Club.
[Read Order]