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Supreme Court Order on Delhi Golf Club and Public Land

Thursday, May 28, 2026
5 min read
Supreme Court Order on Delhi Golf Club and Public Land

The focus has shifted now.

The whole debate about elite institutions taking up prime public land in the capital—that’s what we saw with the Delhi Gymkhana Club. But now, the spotlight is squarely on the Delhi Golf Club.

The Supreme Court stepped in on Wednesday. They ordered immediate enforcement of a 100-metre no-go zone. This zone wraps around Lal Bangla I and II, two sites protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. They are right near the entrance of the Delhi Golf Club.

A report by the Hindustan Times details the specifics. The court told the authorities to seal off everything inside that restricted area. That means structures and activities. Even parts of the club’s kitchen, which sits barely three metres from one of the protected monuments, had to be shut down.

This decision came after a spot survey. It was led by court commissioners, Gopal Sankaranarayanan, along with advocates Nipun Saxena and Vishal Sinha.

The bench—Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N Kotiswar Singh—looked at the evidence. And what they found was stark.

“The photos in that report,” the court observed. “They show hardly any sign of conservation in most of these monuments.” There was neglect. Dilapidation. Many heritage structures inside the club premises just looked abandoned.

But the order didn't stop there.

The court also set a wider boundary. No activity is allowed within twenty metres of nine other historical structures inside the golf club. These ones aren't officially protected under the AMASR Act, but the restriction still stands.

Appearing for the club, senior advocate Kapil Sibal argued back. He called the order “very harsh.” He pointed out that much of the construction actually happened before the 1958 AMASR law was even in place. He urged the court to hold off. Wait. Let the club get their response to the commissioners’ report first.

This whole thing just brings the bigger questions back into focus. How do these huge, exclusive clubs operate on land that belongs to the public?

The Delhi Golf Club itself is massive. Nearly 179 acres. It sits right in Lutyens’ Delhi, near India Gate and Humayun’s Tomb. It’s one of the most exclusive spots in the city, famous for its membership and its facilities.

It’s not just about the monuments anymore. It’s about how these institutions handle public space.

The numbers don't lie either. Government data shows the Centre gets over 15.54 crore in rent and related fees from the golf club since 2012. That translates to about nine lakh rupees a month just for that sprawling estate. And the market value? Tens of thousands of crores.

The Supreme Court’s move is definitely going to crank up the scrutiny. It’s going to force a real look at how these groups manage public land. And how they manage the history that sits right on top of it.

Written by Gree News Team — Senior Editorial Board

Gree News Team covers international news and global affairs at Gree News. Our collective of senior editors is dedicated to providing independent, accurate, and responsible journalism for a global audience.

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