Government seizes Delhi’s Jaipur Polo Ground after court refuses to stay eviction order | Today’s news
The central government on Saturday physically took over the Jaipur Polo Ground in the Race Course area of the state capital, one of the many plots that the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has been trying to reclaim. Officials of the Lands and Development Authority of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs have taken over the 15.20-acre land from the Indian Polo Association (IPA) after a court denied it relief on Friday.
Government takes over Jaipur Polo Ground
On Saturday, officials pasted a notice on the front wall of the historic Jaipur Polo Ground that said, “This land is owned by the Land & Development Office (L&DO), Government of India.”
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“Any unauthorized occupation, encroachment, construction or any other illegal activity on this land is an offense under the Act.
“Persons who commit such acts will be subject to criminal and legal action in accordance with applicable laws,” the notice said.
Heritage Jaipur Polo Ground
Originally donated by Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II of Jaipur to the Delhi Polo Club in 1930, the Jaipur Polo Ground is considered to be one of the most prestigious and oldest polo grounds in India.
It has hosted some of the biggest polo tournaments in the country for generations and has remained closely associated with a sporting tradition that dates back to India’s princely era.
In its May 20 eviction order, the Lands and Development Authority requested possession of the land, citing its need for a “larger public purpose.”
What the Indian Polo Association said
The IPA, which described the eviction as “wrongful, arbitrary and against the law”, said it would use all available legal means to protect its rights and interests.
It also claimed that the land originally formed part of the Jaipur estate in Delhi and belonged to the erstwhile royal family of Jaipur.
According to the IPA, the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) signed a 20-year lease on the property in 1951 and polo activities continued at the site.
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When the lease expired in 1971, it was renewed from time to time on the same terms until the end of 1982, according to the association.
According to the IPA, it was recognized as the national governing body for the sport in 1983 and took over the management and ownership of the grounds.
The IPA also cited a communication dated 30 November 1992 which it said reaffirmed the decision to renew the lease and stated that from 1 April 1993 the renewal would be granted on an annual basis until the land was moved to an alternative site.
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The association also says it saved it ₹30,400 as ground rent in April 2025 for the period ending March 31, 2030 and that the payment was received through the Government’s online portal.
Gymkhana Club and Race Club could follow
However, the government counters that the lease expired in March 1993 and that the association has been illegally occupying the land since then.
The Center has informed the courts that the land occupied by the polo ground and surrounding businesses, including the iconic Delhi Gymkhana Club, is proposed to be taken over for public purposes.
Besides the Jaipur Polo Ground, the government also sought ownership of the colonial-era Delhi Gymkhana Club in the same area and the Delhi Race Club.
Key things
- The evictions reflect broader issues of land ownership and historical rights in India.
- Public interest claims can lead to contentious legal battles over monuments.
- The long history of the Jaipur Polo Ground highlights the importance of heritage conservation in urban development.
