Mohammad Ali Jauhar University faces demolition of 38 unauthorised buildings

Under Uttar Pradesh’s zero-tolerance policy against illegal construction and violations of land-use rules, its Public Works Department (PWD) has announced that the main road passing through Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur is open for general public use. Rampur’s development authority has ordered demolition of 38 buildings at the university.

According to the Press Trust of India report, it is a 3-km four-lane cement road constructed by the PWD during the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in 2016-17 at a cost of around Rs 17.16 crore. The university is led by UP minister and senior Samajwadi party leader Azam Khan.

The open road runs through the 450-acre university campus from the main entrance to the other end, but access remained restricted after the administration closed the main gate in 2019, preventing even PWD officials from entering. Following which, PWD issued several notices.

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Demolition after several years of court hearing

Since 2021-22, around 10 to 12 hearings have been listed but no final hearing has taken place, an official said. Earlier, the court had directed the university to deposit 30% of the amount related to damage to the road, while the issue of whether the gate should remain or be removed is still pending adjudication.

PWD had also deputed a junior engineer to take up the matter before the high court and seek an early decision. As per PWD executive engineer Kishan Veer Singh, it is a government road built with public money and is meant for public use.

Therefore, the department has installed signboards outside the gate and will also put up two or three more boards inside announcing it a public road so that general public can use it freely.

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Only medical, academic blocks were approved

According to an official order, the records show that only the medical college building and the academic block had approved building plans, while there was no valid approval for the remaining 38 buildings.

The order further highlighted that the university’s administration was aware of the requirement for approval, as it had obtained permission from Rampur’s Zila Panchayat for two buildings but proceeded with construction of other structures without approval. RDA noted that such constructions violated the state’s regulation and were liable for action.

The Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur was established in 2006 by an Act of the Uttar Pradesh legislature and is approximately 12 km from Rampur Railway Station.