A major controversy has erupted in Jaipur over the alleged privatisation of public space in the heart of the city. The Central Park Bachao Committee (CPBC) has formally accused the prestigious Rambagh Golf Club (RGC) of illegally occupying the surface of a newly constructed underground parking lot within Central Park.
Formal Complaint Lodged with Civic Authorities
The CPBC has filed a detailed complaint with the Commissioner of the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA), Siddharth Mahajan. The committee alleges that as soon as the JDA finished building the underground parking facility, the golf club authorities swiftly moved in. They reportedly installed barricades and deployed bouncers to prevent the general public from using the area, reserving it exclusively for the club's members.
In a strongly-worded letter to the commissioner, the committee has demanded that the space be opened for use by all citizens. The group has warned that if the JDA fails to act, they will be forced to approach the Rajasthan High Court to seek justice.
Violation of Court Orders and Public Trust
Speaking about the issue, CPBC President Yogesh Yadav expressed outrage. He stated that the JDA used public money to lay the surface and install lighting for the parking lot. "A high court order says the entire Central Park shall be accessible to the public. These are Jaipur's lungs," Yadav asserted.
He posed critical questions to the authorities: "How can JDA allow a private club to exclusively use public space developed with public money? How can the state government foot the bill for electricity for public lights to be utilised by only a private club?" Yadav confirmed that the committee is prepared to file a court petition if the JDA does not intervene and stop this arrangement immediately.
JDA's Internal Admission and Ongoing Legal Battle
When contacted, officials from the Rambagh Golf Club and JDA Commissioner Siddharth Mahajan were not available for comment. However, a senior JDA official provided some insight into the background of the dispute.
The official disclosed that before the construction of the underground parking began, an understanding existed between the golf club and the state's Urban Development and Housing (UDH) department. This understanding allegedly stated that the surface of the parking lot would be given to the golf club for use as an exclusive parking area for its members.
"Whether JDA can hand over the space to a private club is a matter of debate. But there was definitely an understanding," the official admitted, highlighting the legal and ethical ambiguity of the situation.
This is not the first legal skirmish between the CPBC and the authorities over Central Park. The committee has already filed a separate petition in the Rajasthan High Court. That case alleges that the JDA is constructing a building inside Central Park and plans to hand it over to the Rambagh Golf Club, which they claim is a direct violation of existing court orders.
The dispute underscores a growing tension in urban India between the preservation of public green spaces and the encroachment of private, exclusive interests. The outcome will set a significant precedent for how public infrastructure funded by citizen money is managed and who it truly serves.
