Uttar Pradesh administration orders demolition of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University amid legal and political dispute

Authorities in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state of Uttar Pradesh have ordered the demolition of 38 of the 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, alleging that the structures were constructed in violation of regulatory guidelines. The Rampur district administration issued the directive on July 15, with the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) claiming that only two structures, including a proposed medical college block, held valid approvals. The administration has threatened to recover the costs of demolition from the university if the buildings are not dismantled by the August 5 deadline.

The university was established in 2006 by Azam Khan, a prominent Muslim politician and leader of the Samajwadi Party who is currently serving a prison sentence. Khan, a longstanding critic of the ruling BJP, has faced numerous legal challenges since the party came to power in the state in 2017, with dozens of cases relating to the university’s construction. While an interim stay has been granted on the initial demolition deadline, the university’s vice-chancellor, Zaheeruddin, stated that the order remains active and that the institution is pursuing a verdict to quash the directive entirely.

Protests have erupted on the 250-acre campus, where students, alumni, and residents have launched an indefinite sit-in to oppose the move. The demonstrators argue that the institution is vital for minority education and provides a safe environment for female students, with nearly half of the enrolment comprising women. Iqra, a fifth-year law student, noted that parents chose the university specifically for the safety it offers Muslim girls, adding that alternative institutions are not being considered viable due to concerns over family consent and security.

The RDA maintains that the demolition is a necessary legal remedy for unauthorised construction, citing a report by a regional officer that flagged the violations. Ajay Kumar Dwivedi, the district magistrate and RDA vice chairperson, stated that 38 of the buildings were proven invalid following a review. However, the university contends that it fell under the RDA’s jurisdiction only in September 2024, years after construction began, and therefore did not require approval at the time of building. Vice-Chancellor Zaheeruddin described the action as a violation of the constitutional right to education and a political tool against Khan.

Tensions have escalated further with reports that police are visiting the homes of protesting students to pressure their families into ending the sit-in. A delegation of Samajwadi Party parliamentarians, including Javed Ali Khan, Ziaur Rahman Barq, and Iqra Choudhary, joined the protests on Saturday, condemning the move as vendetta politics. While the BJP has defended the action as adherence to legal procedures against illegal land use, critics argue the demolition pattern disproportionately affects minority communities and institutions in the state.