Allahabad High Court Rejects Jauhar University Plea Over Procedural Irregularity

Locus Standi Challenge Ends High Court Proceedings

The Allahabad High Court declined to hear a petition filed on behalf of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University concerning the impending demolition of campus structures. Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery dismissed the case on Monday, July 27, 2026, after state representatives raised a preliminary objection regarding the petitioner's standing.

Additional Advocate General Anupam Trivedi successfully argued that the filing was legally deficient. The petition was submitted by Mohammad Yusuf, a businessman acting as a pairokar (pleader), rather than a recognized university representative. Trivedi asserted that a university must be represented by its Registrar or a documented official, dismissing Yusuf as a stranger to the institution's formal hierarchy. The court upheld this merit, noting that the dismissal allows existing legal proceedings against the university to reach a logical conclusion through proper channels.

RDA Demolition Orders and Administrative Reprieve

The litigation stems from an order issued by the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) on July 15. The RDA mandated the demolition of 38 of the 40 university buildings, claiming the structures were erected without approved architectural maps. The authority cited Section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, setting a final deadline of July 30 for the removal of the buildings.

While the High Court case faltered, the institution gained temporary protections from a different administrative body. Key facts regarding this stay include:

• Interim Relief: The Moradabad Divisional Commissioner’s court granted a stay on the demolition until a final hearing is completed.
• Administrative Statement: Divisional Commissioner Anjaneya Kumar Singh confirmed the stay following an application by the university’s counsel.
• Hearing Delay: A scheduled hearing for Tuesday, July 28, was postponed due to a condolence meeting for a local advocate.

Background and Public Response

Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, established by Samajawadi Party leader Azam Khan, has become the center of a tense standoff between state authorities and university supporters. Currently, students and various activists are conducting sit-in protests against the RDA directives. While the High Court's refusal to hear the businessman's petition marks a procedural setback for the university's defense, the interim stay from the Divisional Commissioner currently prevents the RDA from executing the demolition orders as the July 30 deadline approaches.

Source: The Hindu — Home