Officials of the Land & Development Office under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry took physical possession of the 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Ground in the Race Course area of the national capital on Saturday. According to reports from Times Now, this development follows a May 20 eviction order under which the L&DO sought possession of the land parcel, citing its need for a 'larger public purpose and benefit'. The order, however, offered no details about the intended use of the land, leaving the future development plans unclear. The Jaipur Polo Ground, located near the Delhi Gymkhana Club in the heart of the national capital, has long been associated with polo activities conducted by the Indian Polo Association. Following the possession, the Central Government has displayed a notice declaring the land as government property and warning against any unauthorised occupation or encroachment, confirming formal control over the site. The notice, put up by the Land & Development Office, states that the land belongs to the Government of India and cautions that any unauthorised occupation, encroachment, construction activity or other illegal use of the premises would attract action under applicable laws.
On June 8, the Delhi High Court asked a district court to decide on a plea by the Indian Polo Association (IPA) seeking a stay on the eviction notice. However, as reported by Times Now, the district court declined to grant interim relief against the order. The IPA termed the eviction 'wrongful, arbitrary and contrary to law,' and said it would pursue all available legal remedies to safeguard its rights and interests. Earlier, on June 8, the Centre had assured the Delhi High Court that no coercive action would be taken against the association until June 12. Recording the government's submission, the High Court had noted: "No execution has been filed and there is no imminent execution of the eviction order dated 20.05.2026 contemplated till Friday, as submitted by the (Centre)."
During hearings before the Delhi High Court, the Centre, represented by its Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit, defended the eviction, stating that the land was required for public and defence purposes. The government argued that the limited land available in central Delhi necessitated its use for important governmental and defence functions. On June 12, Vacation Judge Dhirendra Rana of the Patiala House Courts heard an appeal filed by the IPA under Section 9 of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971, seeking a stay on the eviction order's execution. The association was represented by Senior Advocate Akshay Makhija and Major Nirvikar Singh, while the Union of India was represented by Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit. The court noted that the eviction order had been issued on May 20 and the appeal was filed on June 3, and observed that neither the appellate court nor the Delhi High Court had granted any interim stay on eviction. The Union of India argued that no case for stay has been made out in the appeal and no lease subsists, also stating that an incorrect submission was made before the High Court regarding the pendency of the stay application and no such application is pending.
The Indian Polo Association has maintained its strong opposition to the eviction proceedings. As quoted by The Indian Express, IPA President Singh stated that the association maintains that the eviction is wrongful, arbitrary, and contrary to law. IPA is examining the order and will take all appropriate steps available in law to protect its rights and interests. As the matter remains ongoing, we do not wish to comment further at this stage. IPA counsel Major (Retd) Nirvikar Singh noted that as the matter is sub judice and ongoing, the Association does not propose to comment further at this stage.
Vacation Judge Rana declined to stay the execution of the eviction order, observing that similar relief had already been declined by the Principal District & Sessions Judge and that no interim protection had been granted by the Delhi High Court. In view of judicial discipline and propriety, the court said it was not inclined to stay the execution of the eviction order, even until the next date of hearing. The court directed the Union of India to file its reply to the appeal and the stay application and listed the matter for further hearing on June 17, 2026. The Centre's move to place a possession notice at the Jaipur Polo Ground comes after the refusal of interim relief, signalling that it has proceeded to take control of the property while the legal challenge remains pending. This development is part of a larger land row involving other elite Lutyens' Delhi properties, with similar proceedings involving the Race Course Club and Delhi Gymkhana Club also reaching the courts.
