Rampur Authority Orders Demolition of 38 Jauhar University Buildings

The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) has ordered the demolition of 38 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Singankhera, ruling that the structures were built without approved plans. Following an inquiry and hearing on July 15, the RDA invoked Section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, granting the university 15 days to remove the unauthorized constructions covering approximately 82,309.80 square metres.

Simultaneously, the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) declared a 3-km four-lane cement concrete road within the campus as a public road. The PWD installed "Aam Rasta" signboards at the university gate to ensure access to the Lalpur Dam, noting the road was built with government funds between 2016 and 2017 at a cost of approximately Rs 17.16 crore. Although the university blocked access in 2019 and obtained a stay from the Allahabad High Court, the court ordered the institution to deposit 30 percent of costs related to road damage.

University administration argued the campus was outside RDA jurisdiction until September 2024, but officials rejected the claim, stating approvals were mandatory at the time of construction. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak defended the move as an adherence to the rule of law, while Minority Welfare Minister Danish Azad Ansari claimed the university encroached on public land for personal interest. Conversely, the Samajwadi Party condemned the actions as political vendetta against university founder Azam Khan.