Jauhar University demolition notice: Congress calls it bid to distract from Ram Temple donation row
Synopsis
The Rampur Development Authority's notice to demolish 38 of 40 buildings at Azam Khan's Jauhar University has drawn a sharp political counter: Congress says the move is a calculated distraction from the Ram Temple donation theft scandal, and is questioning whether the RDA even had jurisdiction over land that came under its ambit only in 2024 — nearly two decades after the university was built.
Key Takeaways
The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) issued a notice on Wednesday to demolish 38 of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University , Rampur, citing lack of proper approvals.
UPCC President Ajay Rai called the action a 'diversionary tactic' to deflect attention from alleged donation theft at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Rai argued the university, founded in 2005 , had valid permits from the Zila Panchayat ; the RDA's jurisdiction over the area was established only in 2024 .
The 17-page RDA order was issued within hours of the hearing, raising questions about due process, according to Congress.
Congress suggested the Uttar Pradesh government take over university operations rather than demolish the campus, citing student welfare.
The university, founded by SP leader Azam Khan , enrolls students from multiple faiths, according to the UPCC chief.
The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, issued a demolition notice targeting 38 of 40 buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, alleging that the structures were raised without requisite approvals from the competent authority. The move has set off a sharp political confrontation, with the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) branding the action a deliberate diversion from the controversy surrounding alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.
Congress Calls It a Political Manoeuvre
UPCC President Ajay Rai, addressing a press conference at the state Congress headquarters in Lucknow on Friday, 18 July 2025, described the proposed demolition as 'more political than legal.' He alleged that the timing of the notice was orchestrated by the state administration to shift public attention away from the embezzlement controversy linked to the Ram Temple donation fund.
Rai further questioned the credibility of the process, pointing out that the 17-page demolition order was issued by the RDA within just a few hours of hearing the matter — a timeline he argued raises serious doubts about the impartiality of the proceedings.
The Regulatory Jurisdiction Argument
The UPCC chief contended that Jauhar University, established in Singhamkheda village in 2005, had obtained all necessary permits and licences from the Zila Panchayat, which held the legal authority to sanction building plans at the time of construction. According to Rai, the area was brought under the jurisdiction of the Rampur Development Authority only in 2024, making it legally untenable to demand retrospective approvals from the RDA for structures built nearly two decades earlier.
He also asserted that the university was developed in compliance with applicable standards and emphasised that it is not community-exclusive — students from all faiths are enrolled at the institution.
Political Targeting, Says Congress
Rai alleged that the action against the university — founded by Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan — was driven by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s political rivalry with Khan rather than any genuine regulatory concern. He accused the Yogi Adityanath-led state government of pursuing a 'politics of demolition over development' and described the targeting of Jauhar University as part of a broader pattern of selective institutional action.
Notably, this is not the first time the university and its founder have been at the centre of a political storm. Azam Khan has faced multiple legal battles in recent years, and the institution has repeatedly been drawn into the crossfire of UP's polarised political landscape.
Congress Suggests Takeover Over Demolition
Rather than razing the university, Rai proposed that the Uttar Pradesh government consider taking over its operations to protect the academic interests of enrolled students. He criticised the state for weakening educational institutions at a time when the focus should be on expanding access and improving quality. 'The government should prioritise students' interests,' Rai said, warning that demolishing the campus would directly harm thousands of learners.
The RDA has not publicly responded to the Congress's jurisdictional challenge as of the time of reporting. With the demolition notice now in the political spotlight, the matter is likely to escalate — both in the courts and on the campaign trail ahead of upcoming electoral cycles in Uttar Pradesh.
Point of View
But it raises a procedural question that deserves independent scrutiny: if the RDA's jurisdiction over Singhamkheda was established only in 2024, the legal basis for demanding retrospective approvals on 2005-era construction is genuinely contestable. The speed of the 17-page order — issued within hours of the hearing — adds to that unease. At the same time, the BJP's record on Azam Khan-linked institutions suggests political calculus is rarely absent from these decisions. What gets lost in the crossfire is the welfare of students enrolled at the university, who have no stake in either party's electoral arithmetic.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Rampur Development Authority issued a demolition notice to Jauhar University?
The RDA issued the notice alleging that 38 of the university's 40 buildings were constructed without approvals from the competent authority. The university disputes this, arguing it held valid permits from the Zila Panchayat at the time of construction in 2005.
Why is Congress calling the demolition notice a 'diversionary tactic'?
UPCC President Ajay Rai alleges the notice was timed to shift public attention from controversy over alleged theft of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. He described the action as a political move rather than a regulatory one.
What is the jurisdictional argument raised by Congress against the RDA notice?
Congress contends that the Singhamkheda area, where the university stands, was brought under the RDA's jurisdiction only in 2024 — nearly two decades after the university was established in 2005. Therefore, it argues, demanding RDA approvals for those original structures is legally untenable.
Who founded Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and when?
The university was founded by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan in 2005 in Singhamkheda village, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. It admits students from multiple faiths, according to the UPCC.
What alternative has Congress proposed to demolishing the university?
UPCC President Ajay Rai has suggested that the Uttar Pradesh government take over the university's operations rather than raze the campus, arguing that demolition would directly harm enrolled students.
