Rampur Development Authority orders demolition of thirty eight Jauhar University buildings

Rampur: In a major setback for senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) has issued a demolition order for 38 out of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University for lacking authorized building plan approvals. The campus, established by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust in 2006, has faced intense legal scrutiny over land acquisition, lease compliance, and structural clearances.

The demolition order was passed by RDA Vice-Chairperson and District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi under Section 27 of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973. Scrutiny of official records revealed that while the medical college building and one academic block had valid sanctions, the remaining 38 structures—spanning over 82,000 square meters—were built without obtaining requisite approvals from competent authorities.

Civil society groups and university trustees have indicated plans to challenge the demolition order in higher courts within the 15-day notice period.