Bulldozers versus books
Students at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, protested a district administration demolition notice targeting 38 of 40 campus buildings over planning-approval and jurisdiction disputes.
- A district administration notice ordered demolition of 38 of 40 campus buildings, triggering a student sit-in at the university campus in Rampur.
- Rampur Development Authority (RDA) treated the campus buildings as lacking approved construction plans, which students and the university contest on jurisdiction and approval grounds.
- Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act requires buildings to follow sanctioned (approved) plans; the university and students dispute which buildings had valid approvals and which rules apply over time.
- The university argues Rampur Development Authority jurisdiction began only in 2024, so Rampur Development Authority rules should not apply to earlier constructions.
What happened (demolition notice and campus sit-in)
About 100 students held a sit-in at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. The students opposed a district administration notice ordering demolition of 38 of 40 buildings on the university campus.
The demolition notice was linked to actions by the Rampur Development Authority (RDA), which alleged that several campus structures were built without approved construction plans. Students and supporters argued that demolition threats would disrupt students’ academic careers and create safety risks.
UPSC can examine how planning authorities and district administration should enforce building approvals when jurisdiction and timing of regulatory oversight are contested, and how administrations must follow fair procedure to avoid coercive pressure during pending legal proceedings.
