The Central government on Monday assured the Delhi High Court that it would only demarcate the premises of Jaipur Polo Ground and not dig the turf.
The vacation bench of Justice Vinod Kumar recorded the undertaking given by the Central Government Standing Counsel (CGSC) Ashish Dixit while hearing a petition filed by Indian Polo Association (IPA) seeking restoration of possession of the Jaipur Polo Ground.
“We have been shown the photographs that there are some holes on the periphery of the ground. Respondent counsel submits that they are not digging up the land but only demarcating the boundary of the land....Respondent submits that they are not going to do anything on the ground except the demarcation activity,” the Court recorded.
The Association is challenging a Delhi court order passed on June 18 declining to stay the execution of the Centre’s eviction notice dated May 20.
Senior Advocate Kirtiman Singh, representing the IPA, sought court directions for restraining any demolition, uprooting, digging, disturbing or altering the Jaipur Polo Ground.
“What is the tearing hurry to dig up the ground? It is a 100-year-old turf. They are digging up the entire ground and they are making my appeal infructuous. The grounds need to be maintained, it has to be nurtured for a long time. It is a turf of international standards. The entire ground would be destroyed.”
Dixit countered by stating that only demarcation activity will be carried out around the periphery of the ground.
“We are not doing anything on the polo ground only on surrounding area to demarcate from an adjoining golf course. We will finish demarcation and nothing else.”
Thereafter, Centre’s standing counsel Rajesh Gogna stated that there is an Air Force station next to the polo ground and that the issue of national security is involved.
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, who was present before Court for another matter submitted,
“The Government wants to take possession of [Delhi] Race Course, [Delhi] Gymkhana and [Jaipur] Polo ground for the reason on public interest, public purpose including defence installation. By operation of law and court upholding the right, in both Race Course and Polo Ground, we have taken over possession. Once possession has been taken by the government then where is the question of status quo ante?
The Court observed that the matter requires detailed hearing and placed it before the roster bench on July 1.
On June 15, the vacation bench of Justice Tejas Karia had refused to pass any status quo order on the takeover of Jaipur Polo Ground by the Central government. It granted liberty to the IPA to make a request before the Patiala House Court, which has been hearing its challenge to the government's eviction notice.
Recently, the Delhi High Court criticised the move, stating that taking over green spaces and heritage structures in the heart of the city will damage the environment.
"Little breather we have in the NDMC [New Delhi Municipal Council] area is also going to go. All of us are going to suffocate and die. Government never needed the land in 200 years? Only you know what you are going to make Delhi into. You are saying Delhi people, please go to chhota-mota mountain [small mountains] and Delhi will not be fit. You have no idea how we are choking. Small lung that we have, you are going to take it away," Justice Neena Bansal Krishna said earlier this month.
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