Delhi High Court Questions Centre’s Move to Reclaim Polo Ground, Warns Against Shrinking Green Spaces in Capital

June 9, 2026 : The Delhi High Court has raised serious concerns over the Central government’s move to reclaim land occupied by some of the capital’s oldest sporting and social institutions, including the Indian Polo Association (IPA), Delhi Gymkhana Club (DGC), and Delhi Race Club (DRC). The Court observed that Delhi is already grappling with severe pollution, diminishing green cover, and unchecked urbanisation, and cautioned against further reduction of open spaces in the city.

Hearing a petition filed by the Indian Polo Association challenging an eviction notice issued on May 20, 2026, Justice Neena Bansal Krishna questioned the rationale behind the government’s decision to take back the Jaipur Polo Ground located in Delhi’s Race Course area. The Court also expressed concern about the future of the heritage structures situated on the land and whether the proposed redevelopment would result in additional high-rise construction.

The High Court noted that the limited green and open spaces remaining in the New Delhi Municipal Council area play a crucial role in maintaining environmental balance and providing relief to residents from pollution and urban congestion. Justice Krishna observed that Delhi was increasingly being overtaken by high-rise buildings and large-scale construction projects, warning that the city could face greater environmental stress and deteriorating living conditions if the trend continued.

The Court further questioned why the government now sought to reclaim the land after allowing these institutions to occupy it for decades. It remarked that public interest should not be assessed solely through the lens of land utilisation and government expansion while overlooking environmental concerns and the need to preserve green spaces.

During the hearing, the Indian Polo Association informed the Court that it had already challenged the eviction proceedings before the Patiala House Court under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. While notices had been issued in those proceedings, the Association submitted that its application seeking an interim stay on the eviction notice had not yet been considered.

Representing the Union of India, Central Government Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit argued that the land was required for public purposes and defence-related needs. He submitted that land availability in Central Delhi was limited and that several important governmental functions needed to be accommodated in the area. Dixit also contended that the Polo Club’s facilities were used by only a limited number of individuals and that the proposed takeover did not raise any wider public health or welfare concerns.

The Court, however, remained unconvinced that further construction in an already congested city could automatically be considered to be in the public interest. It observed that Delhi’s infrastructure and environment were already under considerable strain and warned that continued encroachment on open spaces could make the city increasingly difficult to live in.

After hearing the parties, the High Court declined to examine the merits of the eviction dispute at this stage and disposed of the petition. It directed the Patiala House Court to hear and decide the Indian Polo Association’s pending application seeking a stay on the eviction notice on June 10.

The case is part of a larger dispute involving the Central government’s efforts to reclaim land occupied by several historic institutions in Lutyens’ Delhi, including the Delhi Gymkhana Club and the Delhi Race Club.