‘Built for personal interests, not to educate poor Muslims’: 38 of 40 buildings at Azam Khan-founded Jauhar University are ‘illegal,’ face demolition

Less than a year ahead of the high-stakes Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, a major political controversy has erupted in the state with the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordering the demolition of 38 out of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.

The authority has claimed that the structures were constructed without receiving prior approval from the competent authority, IANS reported.

Advertisement

The BJP-led state government has defended the action as being in accordance with the law, while Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) has accused the Yogi Adityanath government of acting with political vendetta.

As per the official directive, the university has been asked to remove the unauthorised structures within 15 days. If it fails to comply with the order, then the administration will initiate demolition proceedings.

Defending the state government’s stand on the matter, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said the administration remains committed to make sure that the rule of law is followed without exception.

“Our government is committed to maintaining law and order. We will ensure that the law is upheld in every situation and that no unauthorised construction takes place,” IANS quoted Pathak as saying.

The state’s Minority Welfare Minister, Danish Azad Ansari, alleged that the university was developed by encroaching upon public property.

“Jauhar University was not built for the welfare of society, nor was it built to educate poor Muslims. It was built for personal interests. Government land was encroached upon for the construction of the university,” Ansari said.

He further stated that roads worth crores that were built by the government were included on the university campus along with some Waqf properties.

“All this was revealed in an investigation. Following this, necessary action was taken,” Ansari added.

Criticising the move, the Opposition Samajwadi Party said the demolition order was politically motivated and discriminatory.

SP MLA Ravidas Mehrotra claimed that the saffron party was acting out of “malice and a spirit of vendetta.”

“They are preparing to bulldoze Jauhar University. The BJP government failed to bulldoze the homes of those who embezzled donations meant for the Ram Mandir, yet they are attempting to demolish a place where students study. The BJP will have to pay a heavy price for this; it has sparked anger among the youth,” he said.

Notably, the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University is administered by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which was earlier chaired by Azam Khan.

The RDA passed the demolition order under Section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, after carefully examining records and hearing arguments from all sides.

The university was established in 2006 through an Act passed by the Uttar Pradesh Legislature.