Lutyens’ Land Tussle: Centre Takes Possession of Jaipur Polo Ground Following Court Refusal

The 15.20-acre historic ground in the heart of the national capital is now under government control as the Indian Polo Association’s plea for interim relief hits a judicial wall.

The quiet, manicured lawns of Lutyens’ Delhi witnessed a significant change in stewardship this weekend. By Saturday, June 13, 2026, officials from the Land and Development Office, acting under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, had completed the physical takeover of the 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Ground. This move follows a firm order from a Delhi court, which declined to grant the Indian Polo Association (IPA) the interim protection it sought to stall the eviction process.

The legal battle reached a critical juncture when Additional Sessions Judge Dhirender Rana heard the IPA’s application under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. The Association had hoped for a stay on the Centre’s June 12 eviction order, arguing that without immediate intervention, their appeal would be rendered infructuous. However, the court maintained a strict stance on judicial propriety, noting that previous attempts to secure relief at the District and High Court levels had already been unsuccessful.

A Question of Public Purpose

The dispute is part of a broader, ongoing push by the Union Government to reclaim land parcels across the Race Course area for what it terms "public purposes." While the IPA’s legal team, led by senior advocate Akshay Makhija, pushed hard to restrain authorities until the next hearing, the court refused to bypass the standard process. The government’s standing counsel, Ashish Dixit, requested time to file a formal reply to the IPA’s appeal, and the court—adhering to procedural fairness—granted the respondent the right to be heard before any further orders are passed.

The case is now listed before a vacation judge on June 17. Until then, the eviction stands, marking a major shift in the status of one of the capital's most prestigious sporting venues.

Why It Matters: The Bigger Picture

This eviction is more than just a local land dispute; it reflects the Centre’s tightening grip on prime real estate in the heart of Delhi. For years, iconic clubs and associations in the Lutyens' zone have operated on land that the state is increasingly viewing through the lens of modern urban redevelopment and public utility.

The pattern is clear: the government is systematically auditing land usage in the capital's high-security administrative zones. As the Centre moves to repurpose these expansive tracts, the legal hurdles faced by the Indian Polo Association serve as a bellwether for other legacy institutions in the area. Whether this land becomes part of a new administrative hub or a public facility, the takeaway for legacy leaseholders is that the era of indefinite, low-cost occupation of government-owned Lutyens’ land is rapidly coming to an end.