The Delhi High Court has expressed its serious displeasure over the Central government’s decision to reclaim land occupied by some of Delhi’s oldest sporting and social institutions, including the Indian Polo Association (IPA), Delhi Gymkhana Club (DGC) and Delhi Race Club (DRC), observing that the national capital was already struggling with severe environmental and urbanisation challenges.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Neena Bansal Krishna on Monday questioned the rationale behind the government’s decision to take over such properties and raised concerns regarding the future of the heritage structures located on these premises. The Court observed that Delhi was already facing acute pollution, shrinking green spaces and increasing urban congestion, and cautioned that further reduction of open areas could adversely affect the city’s environmental balance and liveability.
The High Court made these observations while hearing a petition filed by IPA, challenging an eviction notice issued by the Central government on May 20, 2026, directing it to vacate the Jaipur Polo Ground situated in the Race Course area of Delhi.
Justice Krishna questioned the purpose for which the government intended to utilise the land and expressed apprehension that redevelopment could result in further high-rise construction in the city. She observed that the limited open spaces and green areas remaining within the New Delhi Municipal Council area were vital for maintaining environmental sustainability and providing relief to residents from the effects of pollution and excessive urbanisation.
The single-judge Bench remarked that Delhi was increasingly becoming dominated by high-rise buildings and extensive construction activity. If the present trend continued, the city could face even greater environmental stress and deterioration in living conditions, it noted, adding that the government had not required these lands for decades and questioned the necessity of reclaiming them at this stage.
The petitioner informed the Court that it had already challenged the eviction proceedings before the Patiala House Court under the provisions of the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. According to the Association, although the trial court had issued notice in the proceedings, it had not considered its application seeking interim stay of the eviction notice.
Appearing for the Union of India, Central Government Standing Counsel Ashish Dixit defended the decision and submitted that the land was required for public purposes as well as defence-related requirements. He argued that land availability in Central Delhi was limited and that several essential governmental functions had to be carried out from the area. He further contended that the facilities available at the Polo Club were being utilised by only a limited number of persons and that no larger public health or welfare issue was involved in the proposed takeover.
The Court, however, questioned whether additional construction and redevelopment in an already congested city could genuinely be regarded as serving public interest. Justice Krishna observed that public interest could not be viewed solely from the perspective of land utilisation and governmental expansion while ignoring environmental considerations and the need to preserve open spaces within the city.
The Court emphasised that Delhi was already experiencing significant strain on its infrastructure and environment and observed that continued encroachment upon green spaces could further aggravate these concerns. It cautioned that the city risked becoming increasingly uninhabitable if open areas continued to be replaced by large-scale construction projects.
After hearing the parties, the High Court declined to examine the merits of the eviction proceedings at this stage and disposed of the petition with a direction to the Patiala House Court to consider and decide IPA’s pending application seeking a stay on the eviction notice on June 10.
The matter forms part of a broader dispute concerning the Central Government’s efforts to reclaim land occupied by several historic institutions in Lutyens’ Delhi, including DGC and DRC.
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