Central government officials from the Land and Development Office, under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, entered Jaipur Polo Ground on Saturday morning to physically take over the premises managed by the Indian Polo Association (IPA).

The action follows an eviction order passed on May 20, which stated that the 15.20 acres of land would be used “for a larger public purpose and benefit,” without details of the said purpose or benefit.

On Friday, a sessions court refused to grant a stay on the execution of the eviction order.

IPA counsel, Major Nirvikar Singh (Retd), confirmed the development. “The Indian Polo Association maintains that the eviction is wrongful, arbitrary, and contrary to law. IPA is examining the order and will take all appropriate steps available in law to protect its rights and interests. As the matter remains ongoing, we do not wish to comment further at this stage,” Singh added.

On June 8, the Centre had assured the Delhi High Court that it would not take any coercive action towards eviction until June 12. The court recorded in its order: “No execution has been filed and there is no imminent execution of the eviction order dated 20.05.2026 contemplated till Friday, as submitted by the (Centre).”

This relief was due to a pending application by the IPA before a sessions court, seeking a stay on the enforcement and execution of the eviction order.

On June 12, the sessions court refused to grant a stay on the execution of the eviction order under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. “Similar kind of request was moved before…sessions judge…and Delhi High Court and no relief was granted (to Indian Polo Association). Therefore keeping in view the judicial discipline and proprietary, I am not inclined to stay the execution…even till next date,” a vacation bench of sessions judge Dhirendra Rana reasoned.

An IPA appeal against the eviction order is pending before the sessions court, which has now been posted for June 17.

‘Delhi will suffocate’: What Delhi High Court said

According to the IPA, Jaipur Polo Ground, spread over 15.20 acres of land in the heart of Lutyens’ Delhi, is the association’s “principal and only operational polo venue” in the country.

On June 8, the Delhi High Court, while refusing to grant an interim stay given the pending application before the sessions court, had, however, remarked orally, addressing the Centre’s counsel, that “Delhi will suffocate”. “The little breather we have in the NDMC [New Delhi Municipal Council] area, that is also going to go. All of us will suffocate and die. For all the years these have existed, the government never felt the need for the land? Did they feel the need in 200 years?” the bench said.

The government is eyeing a parcel of land around the Kamal Ataturk Road, occupied by the elite Delhi Gymkhana Club, the Delhi Race Club and the Jaipur Polo Ground. The Centre has disputed the entities’ occupation of the land as unauthorised and has also cited that the land is required for “strengthening and securing of defence infrastructure and other vital public security purposes”.