NEW DELHI (15.06.2026): In a major move sending shockwaves through Lutyens’ Delhi, the Central Government has officially taken control of the historic 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Ground. On June 13, 2026, officials from the Land & Development Office (L&DO), operating under the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, took physical possession of the prime Race Course area property. The crackdown follows a district court’s refusal to grant interim protection to the Indian Polo Association (IPA), effectively clearing the path for the eviction.

The Court's Ruling

The IPA had sought a stay against a May 20, 2026 government directive to reclaim the land for an unspecified “larger public purpose.” However, Additional Sessions Judge Dhirender Rana dismissed the request, emphasizing the need for judicial consistency:

"A similar kind of request was moved before the Learned Principal District and Sessions Judge, PHC and Delhi High Court, and no relief was granted to the appellant. Therefore, keeping in view judicial discipline and propriety, I am not inclined to stay the execution of the impugned order..."

Panic Among Lutyens' Elite Clubs

This eviction turns long-standing anxieties into reality for several of the capital's historic recreation centers and elite clubs. The crackdown mirrors recent actions taken against the nearby Delhi Gymkhana Club (DGC), which was slapped with a notice to vacate its premises by June 5, 2026.

However, unlike the IPA, the DGC managed to secure a temporary breather. On May 26, 2026, the Centre assured the Delhi High Court that it would not use force and would follow due legal process regarding the DGC’s eviction petition.

While the DGC has a temporary sigh of relief, the swift takeover of the Jaipur Polo Ground has left premier institutions across Lutyens’ Delhi bracing for what comes next.

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