Rampur, July 22: The management of Mohammad Ali Jawhar University has approached the Moradabad Commissioner’s Court to contest the Rampur Development Authority’s (RDA) order to demolish 38 of its buildings.
The management has filed an appeal seeking a stay on the demolition order, with a hearing scheduled for July 28. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has announced plans to send a high-level delegation to Rampur on July 23, led by Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, to protest the action.
Challenging the RDA’s demolition order, the Mohammad Ali Jawhar Trust and the university have submitted their appeal to the Moradabad Commissioner’s Court. Advocate Junaid Ejaz, representing the university, confirmed that the appeal has been filed, and the hearing is set for July 28.
The advocate stated that the entire dispute is linked to the village of Singhan Khera, which was included within the RDA’s jurisdiction on September 27, 2024. However, the buildings in question were constructed in 2018, meaning RDA provisions should not apply to these constructions. He claimed that there is neither a master plan nor a zonal development plan in effect for the area.
The management also argues that the area does not fall under the controlled village area, thus negating the requirement for approved building plans.
The advocate further noted that even if a procedural violation occurred, the maximum penalty under the law would be 500 rupees, not a demolition order.
It is noteworthy that the RDA’s Assistant Engineer filed a complaint on June 28, issuing a notice to the Secretary of the Mohammad Ali Jawhar Trust and the university’s Registrar, instructing them to present approved plans for the 38 buildings by July 8.
After the university submitted its response, a personal hearing took place, leading District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi to declare the 38 buildings illegal and issue a demolition order. The authority claims that an investigation revealed that 38 out of 40 buildings on the university campus were constructed without approved plans.
In parallel, the Samajwadi Party has taken an active stance on this issue. Following the directives of Party President Akhilesh Yadav, a high-level delegation will visit Rampur on July 23.
The delegation plans to meet with the District Magistrate to demand a halt to the demolition proceedings and will submit a memorandum. Following this, they will report back to the party leadership. Locally, there are voices supporting the university, with some residents of Rampur advocating for the government to take over the institution rather than demolish it. They have also appealed to Azam Khan to hand over the university to the nation in the interest of the public.
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