Nagina MP and Bhim Army chief Chandra Shekhar Azad on Friday criticised the Uttar Pradesh government over the proposed demolition of 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, alleging that the move reflected “communal politics” and violated the spirit of the Supreme Court’s observations on bulldozer actions.
The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) recently ordered the demolition of 38 out of 40 structures on the university campus, stating that they were constructed without approved building plans in violation of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.
‘Administrative Order Cannot Replace Court Verdict’
In a post on X, Azad argued that the university should be allowed to exhaust all legal remedies before any demolition is carried out.
“The order for bulldozer action against Jauhar University is the height of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s communal politics. The most worrying aspect is that even after repeated rebukes from the honourable Supreme Court on bulldozer actions, the Uttar Pradesh government is not desisting from such measures,” he said.
Azad further said that the demolition order issued by the Rampur Development Authority was only an administrative decision and could not replace a judicial verdict.
“If the university disagrees with this order, it has every right to present its case before a competent court and seek justice. In such a scenario, any demolition action before the final judicial decision would amount to contempt of the honourable Supreme Court,” he said.
Alleges Double Standards
The Bhim Army chief also accused the state government of adopting double standards in dealing with educational institutions.
Referring to the University Grants Commission’s list of fake universities, Azad claimed that institutions in Aligarh, Prayagraj, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Lucknow had not faced similar action, while an established university was being targeted.
He demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government immediately suspend the proposed demolition, allow the university to pursue all available legal remedies and abide by the final decision of the courts.
Background of the Case
The Rampur Development Authority ordered the demolition after concluding that 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University were constructed without obtaining the required building plan approvals.
The university, established in 2006 through an Act passed by the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, was founded by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and has been involved in several legal disputes over alleged land encroachment and lease violations. The state government has already reclaimed portions of the university campus in previous proceedings.
Earlier this year, Azam Khan and his family resigned from the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which manages the university. The proposed demolition has since drawn criticism from several political leaders and Muslim organisations, who have urged the government to resolve the matter through legal and administrative procedures instead of demolition.
