Government Takes Jaipur Polo Ground After Court Denies Stay

Government officials took physical possession of the historic Jaipur Polo Ground in New Delhi on Saturday, June 13, 2026, following a court decision that cleared the way for eviction. The Land and Development Office, under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, assumed control of the 15.20-acre site in the Race Course area after the Indian Polo Association failed to secure a court order to block the action.

The eviction stems from an order issued on May 20, which directed the association to vacate the land for a "larger public purpose," though the government has not specified the intended use. Officials posted a notice on the property declaring it government land and warning against unauthorized occupation or activity.

The takeover proceeded after Additional Sessions Judge Dhirender Rana on Friday, June 12, declined to grant the polo association interim protection against the eviction order. The judge noted that similar requests had been denied by both a principal district judge and the Delhi High Court. Citing judicial discipline, the court stated it was not inclined to stay the order's execution. However, it directed the central government to file replies to the...