The Delhi High Court on Tuesday permitted the Central Secretariat Club to withdraw its petition challenging an eviction notice issued by the Directorate of Estates after observing that the eviction stemmed from the Centre’s order withdrawing the Club’s recognition and that the challenge should be heard by the appropriate roster bench.

The petition challenged the July 17 eviction notice issued by the Directorate of Estates under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs directing the Club to immediately vacate the premises on grounds of misconduct.

Justice Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar observed that the eviction notice was a consequence of the de-recognition order and, therefore, both issues were intrinsically connected. The Court remarked that it was not the roster bench assigned to hear challenges to the de-recognition order.

Sr Adv Diya Kapur argued that the Club’s existence was independent of government recognition, contending that it was an association formed by its members and that the government could not extinguish its existence merely by withdrawing recognition.

The Court, however, observed that both the society and the club appeared to have been de-recognised and remarked that the petition’s foundation rested on the Club’s recognition.

The petition was accordingly withdrawn with liberty to seek listing before the appropriate bench.

Advocate Radhika Bishwajit Dubey appeared for State.