Muslim religious leaders on Friday, 17 July sharply criticised the likely bulldozer action against Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, after the Rampur District Administration issued a demolition order against 38 of 40 structures on the campus, warning that razing an educational institution would be a lasting 'stain' on the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led state government. The clerics urged the administration to pursue financial penalties rather than demolition.

Background: How the Row Erupted

The dispute surfaced on Wednesday when the Rampur District Administration issued a demolition notice after concluding that 38 out of 40 structures at Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University — founded by Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan — were constructed without approved building plans. The university is home to thousands of students enrolled in a range of professional courses.

What the Clerics Said

Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi, President of the Shia Markazi Chand Committee, acknowledged that irregularities may have occurred but argued that demolition is a disproportionate response. 'It is a university, a centre of education...I admit that there may have been some irregularities and those should be removed. The development authority should take the required fines from the university if they have made illegal constructions, as there are provisions for this,' he said.

Naqvi called on Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to direct the Rampur Development Authority to levy appropriate compounding fees instead. 'If the university is demolished during the regime of this government, then this will be a stain on them that this government bulldozed an educational institution,' he remarked. He was careful to distance his appeal from the university's founder: 'I am not talking about Azam Khan, whose name is associated with the university. I am just saying that it is an educational institution where students from all religions, caste and communities are studying and it is a matter of their future.'

Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association, echoed that concern, stating that Jauhar University is not the property of a single individual. 'Taking bulldozer action against an educational institution means messing with the future of students,' he said. Rashidi also suggested an administrative middle path: 'If the District Magistrate thinks that the university has been constructed illegally, then he could take it under his authority...whatever the case might be, the university must continue to function.'

The Broader Debate

The case arrives amid a wider national conversation about the use of demolition orders — often referred to as 'bulldozer action' — against properties linked to individuals facing legal scrutiny. Critics across party lines have argued that demolishing functional institutions, particularly educational ones, inflicts collective harm on students who have no connection to alleged legal violations. Notably, Naqvi's pointed question — 'Do only Muslim students study there and not non-Muslims?' — underscores the argument that the impact of any demolition would cut across religious communities.

What Happens Next

No timeline for the demolition has been officially confirmed, and the Rampur District Administration has not publicly responded to the clerics' calls for compounding fees in lieu of demolition. Legal avenues, including a potential court challenge, remain open to the university's management. All eyes are now on whether the Uttar Pradesh government will intervene or allow the local administration's order to proceed.