Government can take back its land when needed, says Urban Affairs Minister on Gymkhana issue

In his first reaction to the government’s decision to begin the process of taking back the land leased to the Delhi Gymkhana Club , Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister M.L. Khattar on Monday (June 1, 2026) said the government could take back land needed for any other purpose and that this process would be followed wherever necessary. “Land is a basic feature of urban development. In most cases, it has been given on lease. The leased land can be vacated upon expiry of the lease or even before that for any other use. The land we are taking back today will be put to use as per the requirements, and this work will carry on. There is no other source of land, so we will have to use this land for development needs,” Mr. Khattar said, replying to a question at a press conference on the BRICS Urbanisation Forum to be hosted by the Ministry in Delhi on June 11-12.