The Central government takes physical possession of the 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Ground in Delhi’s Race Course area, following a district court’s refusal to grant interim relief to the Indian Polo Association (IPA). Multiple outlets report that officials from the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry enter and secure the site after an eviction order issued on May 20. The government says the repossession is for a “larger public purpose” and that the land was under unauthorized occupation, which it treats as a basis for eviction. According to reporting, the government has not publicly specified what the ground will be used for.
The IPA disputes the eviction and characterization of the land status, saying the eviction is “wrongful, arbitrary and contrary to law.” The association states it will pursue available legal remedies to protect its rights and interests and indicates the matter remains sub judice.
Outlets also note the dispute’s wider context within the government’s efforts to reclaim prominent land parcels in Lutyens’ Delhi. Related cases involving the Delhi Gymkhana Club and the Delhi Race Club continue, with courts previously giving temporary relief or handling interim aspects of eviction proceedings.
