LUCKNOW: The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) has ordered the demolition of 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, founded by jailed Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, saying they were constructed without approved building plans, according to news agency ANI.The move has triggered a political row, with the Samajwadi Party and Congress accusing the BJP government of targeting an educational institution, while officials maintain the action follows violations of planning laws.Why were the demolition orders issued?According to the RDA, the demolition order was passed under Section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, after a detailed hearing and examination of records.Rampur District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi said the action was initiated after a report by the regional junior engineer flagged alleged unauthorised constructions on the university campus.The university management was served a notice and asked to present its case. It submitted its reply on July 8, and a personal hearing was held on July 15 in the presence of officials and lawyers representing both the university and the RDA.During the hearing, the university argued that Singankhera village, where the campus is located, was not under the jurisdiction of the Rampur Development Authority before September 27, 2024. It said approval from the RDA was therefore not required when the buildings were constructed and that the structures could not now be declared illegal under current rules.The RDA rejected the arguments, saying approval from the competent authority was mandatory at the time of construction, regardless of whether the area was later brought under the development authority’s jurisdiction.According to the order, records from the Rampur Zila Panchayat showed that only the medical college building and the academic block had approved building plans. No valid approval was available for the remaining 38 buildings.The authority also said the university management was aware of the approval requirement because it had obtained permission from the Zila Panchayat for two buildings but went ahead with constructing the others without sanction.The RDA concluded that the constructions violated statutory provisions and were liable for action under the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act. It also rejected the university’s legal arguments related to the master plan, zonal plan and other provisions of the Act, stating that the legality of any construction depended on approval from the competent authority under the law applicable at the time.University founded by Azam KhanMohammad Ali Jauhar University was established in 2006 through an Act of the Uttar Pradesh legislature. Located around 12 km from Rampur railway station, it was one of Azam Khan’s flagship projects.Khan served as the Chancellor and lifetime president of the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which operated the university. The institution has, however, been embroiled in several legal disputes over land encroachment and alleged lease violations, with the Uttar Pradesh government reclaiming large portions of the property over the years.Earlier this year, Khan and his family formally stepped aside from the university’s governing trust.Political reactionsReacting to the demolition order, Samajwadi Party spokesperson Fakhrul Hasan Chand alleged that the BJP government was “pursuing a policy of demolition instead of development”.He said educational institutions were being targeted and described Mohammad Ali Jauhar University as a centre of learning.Chand claimed that the BJP was “afraid of education” and asserted that the Samajwadi Party, if voted to power, would focus on development of Uttar Pradesh rather than demolitions.Congress spokesperson Sachin Rawat alleged that the BJP government was selectively using bulldozer action and other agencies against opposition leaders.He questioned why similar action was not taken against those associated with the ruling party who were accused of wrongdoing.Rawat said that the people of Uttar Pradesh were watching these developments and would give their verdict in the elections.
