The Rampur Development Authority ordered the demolition of 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University after alleging they lacked approved construction maps [1].
The order targets nearly all structures on the campus, threatening the operational viability of the institution founded by Azam Khan. The move comes amid long-standing tensions between the founder and regional authorities.
District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi announced the order and said the action followed a report from a regional junior engineer regarding unauthorized constructions on the campus [3]. The demolition order affects 38 of the 40 total buildings located on the university grounds [1].
University officials have been given 15 days to carry out the demolition [1]. The RDA maintains that the structures were built without formal authorization or the required approved maps [1], [2].
Dr. Tazeen Fatima, the wife of Azam Khan, responded to the announcement and said the demolition order is politically motivated [5]. She suggested the move is not about urban planning but is instead a targeted effort against her husband.
This sentiment was echoed by a Superintendent of Police, who said the action is a vendetta against Azam Khan [6]. The university serves as a primary educational hub in the Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, and the potential loss of 38 buildings would leave only two structures standing [1].
The university has not yet announced whether it will challenge the order in court or comply with the 15-day deadline [1], [4].
“The demolition order is politically motivated.”
The scale of the demolition order—targeting 95% of the campus infrastructure—suggests a move that would effectively shutter the institution rather than correct minor zoning violations. By framing the issue as a lack of approved maps, the state utilizes administrative law to dismantle a project tied to a political opponent, reflecting a broader trend of 'bulldozer justice' in Uttar Pradesh where urban planning enforcement is frequently applied to political figures.
