The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on Saturday, 13 June posted a public notice at the Jaipur Polo Ground, near the Delhi Race Club, formally declaring the over 15-acre land parcel as government property and warning against unauthorised occupation. The move came just one day after a court declined to stay an eviction order issued to the ground's current manager, the Indian Polo Association (IPA).

The Court's Ruling

On Friday, 12 June, Patiala House Court's Vacation Judge Dhirendra Rana refused to stay the execution of the eviction order that the government had served on the Jaipur Polo Ground on 20 May. The court noted that similar relief had already been denied by both the Principal District and Sessions Judge, Patiala House Court, and the Delhi High Court, and cited judicial discipline as a reason for declining to grant a fresh stay.

'As far as staying of execution of impugned order till next date of hearing is concerned, I am not inclined to accept this request. Similar kind of request was moved before Principal District and Sessions Judge, PHC and Delhi High Court and no relief was granted to the appellant. Therefore, keeping in view the judicial discipline and proprietary, I am not inclined to stay the execution of impugned order even till next date,' the court said.

The court also noted that the Delhi High Court had disposed of the IPA's writ petition on 8 June without granting any ad-interim protection against eviction.

Why the Centre Wants the Land

The Central government has stated that it intends to use the Jaipur Polo Ground to organise important governmental and defence-related functions. The ground sits in a strategically significant zone in the heart of the Capital, making it a priority acquisition for the Union government.

The Delhi Gymkhana Parallel

The Jaipur Polo Ground notice is not an isolated action. Last month, MoHUA — acting through the Land and Development Office (L&DO) — issued a similar notice to the Delhi Gymkhana Club, targeting its 27.3-acre property at 2, Safdarjung Road, located close to the official residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. That notice invoked Clause 4 of the perpetual lease deed, under which the lessor reserves the right to re-enter the premises if required for a public purpose, citing the need to strengthen defence infrastructure and vital public security arrangements.

The Delhi High Court subsequently refused to grant interim relief to the Club. A single-judge bench of Justice Avneesh Jhingan declined to stay the Centre's communication while issuing summons in suits filed by club members and employees. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured the court that no forcible eviction would take place and that any action would follow due process and prior notice.

Established in 1913 during the colonial era, the Delhi Gymkhana Club is one of India's oldest and most exclusive social institutions, historically serving senior bureaucrats, diplomats, military officials, and influential citizens.

What Happens Next

With courts at multiple levels declining to intervene, the Centre's repossession drive in Lutyens' Delhi appears to be advancing on firm legal ground. The IPA's legal options are narrowing, and the government's timeline for taking physical possession of the Jaipur Polo Ground remains to be formally announced. The broader pattern — reclaiming leased land in high-security zones near critical government infrastructure — signals a wider policy push that could affect other long-standing institutional tenants in central Delhi.