The Allahabad High Court has declined to hear a petition challenging the proposed demolition of buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur after holding that the petition had not been filed by a person legally authorised to represent the institution.
Justice Saurabh Shyam Shamshery dismissed the writ petition after accepting the State government’s preliminary objection regarding its maintainability. During the hearing, the State argued that the petition had been filed by Mohammad Yusuf, a businessman acting as a pairokar (pleader), rather than by an authorised university official such as the Registrar or another designated representative. According to the State, a private individual cannot initiate legal proceedings on behalf of a university without proper authority.
After examining the records, the High Court found merit in the objection raised by the State and held that the petition was not maintainable. The court therefore disposed of the case, allowing the legal proceedings already initiated against the university and the trust managing it to continue in accordance with law.
Interim Protection Granted by Moradabad Divisional Commissioner
Although the High Court refused to entertain the writ petition, the university received temporary relief in separate proceedings. The court of the Moradabad Divisional Commissioner has stayed the proposed demolition of 38 buildings on the university campus until the matter is finally decided. As a result, no demolition action can be taken while the interim stay remains in force.
Background of the Dispute
The demolition proceedings relate to notices issued against several structures on the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University campus. The dispute has become part of a broader legal battle involving the university and the authorities over the legality of various constructions and related administrative actions. The latest High Court order does not determine the merits of the demolition itself; instead, it focuses solely on whether the person who approached the court had the legal authority to represent the university.