Demolition notice for Jauhar University sparks outcry in Uttar Pradesh

On July 16‑17, 2026, the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) in Uttar Pradesh issued demolition notices for 38 of the 40 buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, a private institution founded by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan.

The RDA said the structures were built without the required approvals. The university argues the buildings were erected before the area fell under RDA jurisdiction and that any technical issues can be settled through due legal process.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) condemned the move as "biased, vindictive and unjust," labeling it a political vendetta against Azam Khan and warning that demolishing the campus would harm the nation's educational infrastructure, especially for the Muslim community. AIMPLB urged the Uttar Pradesh government to withdraw the notice and resolve the matter via dialogue.

Samajwadi Party figures, including Azam Khan’s wife Dr. Tanjin Fatima, visited the campus after the order, met police, and said the university would pursue legal remedies. Party MP Rajiv Kumar Rai described the demolition plan as an attack on education and pledged to raise it in Parliament.

The controversy has heightened tensions between the state administration and the Samajwadi Party, prompting protests and calls to protect the institution.