Centre Takes Possession of Jaipur Polo Ground Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

The Central government has formally taken physical possession of the 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Ground in Lutyens’ Delhi, placing official notices around the property and warning against unauthorised entry or construction. The action was carried out by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, less than a day after a Delhi sessions court refused to stay the eviction order sought by the Indian Polo Association (IPA).

The dispute stems from the government’s claim that the IPA’s lease expired in 1993, making its continued occupation unlawful. Officials argue the land is needed for a larger public purpose, including strengthening defence and security infrastructure. The legal confrontation intensified earlier in the week when the Delhi High Court expressed concern over the shrinking green spaces in central Delhi, but did not grant a formal stay on the eviction.

The IPA has opposed the takeover, describing the ground as its only operational polo venue and an important ecological asset for the city. Its legal team said the eviction is arbitrary and unlawful, and that further legal remedies are being considered. The case remains active, with the sessions court directing the Union government to file a formal response to the IPA’s appeal before the next hearing scheduled for June 17.

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