Rampur Development Authority Orders Demolition Of Thirty Eight Jauhar University Buildings

Rampur: In a major setback for jailed Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) has issued an official order to demolish 38 out of the 40 buildings located within the campus of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.

The administrative order, passed under Section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, declares these structures completely unauthorized due to the absolute lack of mandatory building plan approvals.  Rampur District Magistrate and RDA Vice-Chairman Ajay Kumar Dwivedi confirmed that the decision was taken following a comprehensive junior engineer report, detailed scrutiny of revenue records, and a personal hearing given to the university management.

The scrutiny revealed that out of approximately 40 structures spanning the massive university campus, only the medical college building and one academic block possessed valid construction permissions from the Zila Panchayat. The remaining 38 buildings, covering a vast built-up area of 82,309 square meters, were constructed without any legal maps or administrative sanctions.  

The university management strongly contested the RDA's jurisdiction, arguing that the campus land in Singankhera village was outside the development authority's limits when the structures were originally built. However, the administration flatly rejected this defense, stating that seeking construction approval from the then-competent local panchayat body was legally mandatory.  

The RDA has formally granted the university trust a strict 15-day window to dismantle the illegal structures on its own. Failure to comply will result in direct state-led bulldozer action, with all demolition costs legally recovered from the institution. Meanwhile, the district administration has set up dedicated student counseling camps on campus to ensure that the academic future of the enrolled students remains unaffected by the legal proceedings.