Court Stays Demolition of 38 Buildings at Azam Khan-Linked University
The Moradabad Divisional Commissioner's court has temporarily halted the proposed demolition of 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, until the final hearing of the case. The interim relief was granted on Monday after the university's legal team filed an application before Divisional Commissioner Anjaneya Kumar Singh.
The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) had on July 15 issued a demolition notice for 38 of the 40 buildings on the campus, describing them as unauthorised constructions. The notice, issued under Section 27 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, gave the university 15 days to remove the structures voluntarily, warning that the administration would proceed with demolition if the institution failed to comply. The order was signed by RDA vice-chairperson and Rampur District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi.
The university is run by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, whose chairperson is Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan. The development has drawn political attention given Khan's prominence in the region. However, the court's intervention provides temporary relief while the legal process continues.
The matter is next scheduled for a final hearing, after which the court will decide on the permanent status of the buildings. The university has maintained that the constructions were carried out with due permissions, a claim contested by the development authority. The case highlights ongoing disputes over land use and building regulations in rapidly urbanising areas of Uttar Pradesh.
