India, June 30 -- The Delhi High Court on Monday declined to restrain the Centre from carrying out excavation or digging work on the 15.2-acre Jaipur Polo Ground until July 1, observing that the government had already taken possession of the land earlier this month.

A vacation bench of justice Vinod Kumar said that since possession had already been taken on June 14, there was no question of granting interim protection against any proposed work on the site. "Once possession has been taken, there is no question of stay. If you succeed in the appeal, status quo ante will follow. I'm posting it for July 1 before the roster bench," the court observed.

The order came on a petition filed by the Indian Polo Association (IPA) challenging a June ...