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Rampur, July 16. Taking the biggest action so far, the administration at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University located in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh has declared 38 buildings of the campus illegal and issued an order for their demolition. Rampur Development Authority (RDA) says that these buildings were constructed without the approval of valid building map. This university is considered to be the dream project of senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan.

RDA has taken this action under Section 27(1) of Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973. Before issuing the order, the university management was given a notice and an opportunity to present its stand. After hearing both the parties, the authority considered the construction to be contrary to the rules. According to Rampur District Magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi, the investigation was initiated on the basis of a detailed report by the regional junior engineer. The investigation found that necessary administrative approval was not available for the construction of several buildings in the complex.

What argument did the university give?

During the hearing, the university management said that when these buildings were constructed, Singankheda village did not come under the jurisdiction of Rampur Development Authority. Therefore at that time it was not necessary to take permission for building construction from RDA. The management also argued that buildings already constructed cannot be considered illegal on the basis of rules implemented later.

Why did RDA reject the arguments?

Rejecting the university’s arguments, the Rampur Development Authority said that it was mandatory to obtain approval from the competent authority at the time of construction. There is no change in this legal responsibility if the area later comes under RDA. Investigation also revealed that only the maps of Medical College and Academic Block were found approved in the records of District Panchayat. Apart from this, no valid approval or records are available for the other 38 buildings of the complex.

The university has been in controversies for a long time

Mohammed Ali Jauhar University, established under a special law in 2006, has long been in controversies over matters to land encroachment, land buying and selling and alleged violation of lease rules. Meanwhile, in early 2026, Azam Khan and his family formally separated themselves from the trust that runs the university.