The Indian government has successfully taken physical possession of the historic 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Ground in Lutyens' Delhi. The takeover, executed on a Saturday morning, comes less than 24 hours after a Delhi sessions court declined to grant the Indian Polo Association (IPA) interim protection or a stay against an eviction order, ending a long-standing legal battle over the prime land.
Government Asserts Control Over Key Property
Officials from the Land and Development Office (L&DO), operating under the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, entered the sprawling premises located in the high-security Race Course area. They immediately installed signage declaring the land as government property and issued warnings against unauthorized entry or construction. The Centre has indicated the land is required for a "larger public purpose and benefit," including strengthening defense infrastructure and other vital public security functions, though specific redevelopment plans remain confidential.
Protracted Legal Battle
The administrative push to reclaim the land began on May 20, 2026, when the L&DO issued an eviction order to the IPA. The government maintains that the lease for the property, originally granted to the IPA, expired in 1993, rendering the association's continued occupation unauthorized. The IPA, however, strongly resisted the takeover, arguing that the ground is its "principal and only operational polo venue" in the country and a critical ecological asset for central Delhi.
The dispute escalated to the Delhi High Court on June 8, where Justice Neena Bansal Krishna expressed environmental concerns about the loss of open spaces, orally remarking that "Delhi will suffocate." Despite these observations, the High Court did not issue an explicit stay, instead directing the district court to decide urgently on the IPA's stay application, with the Centre assuring no coercive steps until June 12.
Court Denies Stay for IPA
On Friday, June 12, Vacation Judge Dhirendra Rana of the Patiala House Courts officially denied the IPA's request to halt the eviction process. Citing judicial discipline and the absence of ad-interim relief from higher courts, the ruling paved the way for central authorities to move swiftly the following morning to secure the perimeter.
"The Indian Polo Association maintains that the eviction is wrongful, arbitrary, and contrary to law," stated Major Nirvikar Singh (Retd), counsel for the IPA. "IPA is examining the order and will take all appropriate steps available in law to protect its rights and interests."
Broader Campaign for Lutyens' Delhi Land
The acquisition of the Jaipur Polo Ground is part of a broader, synchronized campaign by the Central government to scrutinize and reclaim expansive public land parcels held by legacy institutions in Lutyens' Delhi. Parallel eviction proceedings are reportedly targeting the neighboring Delhi Gymkhana Club and the Delhi Race Club. While physical control of the polo venue has been asserted, the underlying legal dispute remains active, with the sessions court directing the Union of India to file its formal reply to the IPA's comprehensive appeal. The matter is listed for its next hearing on June 17.