Azam Khan's Muhammad Ali Jauhar University dealt a major blow, orders demolition of 38 out of 40 buildings

The Rampur Development Authority has ordered the demolition of 38 buildings of the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, declaring them unauthorized. The institution has been given a 15-day deadline to take action on its own.

In a major administrative action, the Rampur Development Authority has declared 38 out of 40 buildings of the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, a key educational project of senior Samajwadi Party leader and currently jailed Azam Khan, as illegal constructions. The university administration has been directed to demolish the buildings itself within 15 days, failing which the authority will take legal action to demolish them.

According to the Rampur Development Authority, the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University is located in Singan Khera village of Rampur Sadar tehsil. After the area was included in the authority's jurisdiction in 2024, the university was asked to provide details of approved building maps. The university administration was issued a notice and a written response was also sought.

The authority says that during the detailed hearing of the case, the university was given a full opportunity to present its stance and be heard in person. After the investigation, it was found that out of the university's 40 buildings, only two had approved maps from the relevant competent authority, while no legal approval was obtained for the construction of the remaining 38 buildings.

Rampur District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi said that the university's buildings now come under the jurisdiction of the Rampur Development Authority, and an examination of the relevant records revealed that most of the buildings were constructed without approval. According to him, the demolition order was issued only after completing all legal requirements and hearing the parties' stance.

During the hearing, the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University argued that when the buildings were constructed, Singan Khera village was not under the jurisdiction of the Rampur Development Authority, so there was no need to obtain map approval from the authority. The university also said that the buildings were constructed before the current administrative boundaries came into force, so they could not be declared illegal on current grounds.

However, the Rampur Development Authority rejected this argument, saying that it was legally necessary to obtain approval from the competent authority at the time of construction, regardless of any subsequent change in the administrative jurisdiction of the area. According to the authority, only the maps of the medical college and educational block are found to be approved in the district panchayat records, while there is no record of any legal approval for the remaining 38 buildings.

It is worth noting that the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University was established in 2006 under a law passed by the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. It is considered one of Azam Khan's key educational projects. In recent years, the university has faced several investigations and court proceedings due to land disputes, alleged violations of lease regulations, and other legal issues.