Bulldozers roll into Delhi Race Club; stables razed

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Bulldozers demolished several structures at the Delhi Race Club, including the stables, bookmakers’ ring, winning post, photofinish camera, and saddling enclosure.

Demolition work began at the century-old Delhi Race Club in Lutyens’ Delhi on Thursday, shortly after the Centre took possession of the 53.24-acre premises and halted racing activities, officials said.

The Land and Development Office (L&DO) took over the property following a Patiala House Court order on Tuesday dismissing the club’s plea seeking an interim stay on the August 11 eviction order passed by an estate officer under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1971.

Bulldozers demolished several structures at the racecourse, including the stables, bookmakers’ ring, winning post, photofinish camera, and saddling enclosure, a club official said. The club had more than 250 horses, of which around 200 have been taken back by their owners, while about 50 remain at the premises. The club has been given time until September 14 to complete the process of moving the remaining horses, according to officials.

The L&DO sought assistance from the New Delhi police for deployment during the demolition. No untoward incident was reported.

The dispute over the property began in March when the L&DO issued a notice directing the club to vacate the government land within 15 days, stating that it was required for public purposes. The club challenged the notice before the Delhi High Court. On August 11, the estate officer directed the club to vacate the premises within 15 days, holding that its lease had expired on December 31, 1994, and had not been renewed.

The Centre has maintained that the lease executed in 1926 was temporary and that the club had remained in unauthorised occupation since January 1, 1995. The club’s main appeal against the eviction order is scheduled for final disposal before the court on September 26.

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