India orders demolition of illegal buildings at Jauhar University and Delhi shrine

The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) ordered the demolition of 38 of the 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, after finding they were constructed without approved building plans, violating the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act. The university, founded by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, was given a 15‑day deadline to remove the unauthorized structures, as the district magistrate noted only two buildings had permission from the Zila Panchayat.

In Delhi, the state government demolished a shrine on the Pitampura‑Shalimar Bagh road to clear the way for a road‑widening project. The demolition is part of a city‑wide anti‑encroachment drive that has razed dozens of illegal buildings and sealed many others since June, following a fire tragedy that prompted stricter enforcement of building by‑laws and fire‑safety norms.