The Rampur Development Authority ordered the demolition of 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University for lacking required building-plan approvals [1].
The order targets an institution founded by Azam Khan, a senior Samajwadi Party leader, intensifying a conflict between the university's leadership and the Uttar Pradesh government.
Officials said the structures were built without prior approval from the competent authority. This action allegedly violates Section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act [5]. The authority gave the university a 15-day deadline to remove the structures [2].
Reports indicate that of the 40 total buildings on the campus, 38 have been deemed illegal [3]. While some reports suggest all 38 buildings lacked approval [1], other records indicate that only the academic block, and the medical college, had received the necessary permits [3].
Tazeen Fatima, the wife of Azam Khan, said the demolition order is politically motivated [4].
Government officials said the order is a legal enforcement action. Some officials further alleged that the buildings were constructed for personal interests rather than to educate poor Muslims [5].
“The demolition order is politically motivated.”
This move reflects a broader trend of 'bulldozer justice' in Uttar Pradesh, where the state government uses demolition orders for building code violations against political opponents. By targeting the infrastructure of a university tied to a senior Samajwadi Party leader, the administration is leveraging urban planning laws to exert pressure on political dissidents.
