Delhi Court refuses relief to Indian Polo Association, clears way for Jaipur Polo ground eviction

A Delhi court has declined to grant interim relief to the Indian Polo Association (IPA), paving the way for the Centre to take possession of the historic Jaipur Polo Ground in the Race Course area of the national capital.

Additional Sessions Judge Dhirender Rana refused to stay the execution of the government's eviction order, noting that similar requests had earlier been rejected by both the Patiala House Court and the Delhi High Court. The court said judicial discipline and propriety did not permit it to grant relief that had already been denied by higher forums.

The dispute concerns the 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Ground in Lutyens' Delhi. The Land and Development Office (L&DO) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has already taken physical possession of the property. The Centre has stated that the land, along with nearby properties including the Delhi Gymkhana Club, is proposed to be used for public purposes.

The Indian Polo Association had approached the court seeking a stay on the eviction order issued under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971. However, the court observed that the association's appeal had been pending since June 3 without any interim protection being granted.

While refusing immediate relief, the court directed the Union government to file its response to the appeal and listed the matter for further hearing before a vacation judge on June 17.

The IPA described the eviction as arbitrary and unlawful, stating that it would continue to pursue all available legal remedies to protect its interests. The association, however, refrained from making further comments as the matter remains sub judice.

The case has also sparked concerns over the future of heritage and green spaces in central Delhi. During an earlier hearing, the Delhi High Court expressed apprehensions over the increasing number of high-rise developments in the capital and the potential impact on the city's environmental balance and open spaces.