Socialist Party Sends Delegation to Halt Campus Building Demolition

The Socialist Party has entered the fray over the planned demolition of Mohammad Ali Jaunpur University’s 38 buildings. Acting on instructions from party chief Akhilesh Yadav, a high‑level team headed by opposition figure Mata Prasad Pandey arrived in Rampar on July 23 to engage with district magistrate Ajay Kumar Dwivedi.

The delegation’s agenda is to secure an immediate stay on the demolition order issued by the Rampar Development Authority. Representatives will submit a detailed memorandum outlining legal and humanitarian concerns, and later relay the outcome to the party leadership for further action.

Local reactions have been mixed. While some residents support the university’s preservation, others have urged the state to acquire the campus instead of destroying it, labeling the demolition as a loss to regional education infrastructure. The party’s intervention adds a political dimension to an already contentious legal battle that is set for a hearing on July 28 before the Muradabad Commissioner Court.

The university’s legal counsel, Junaid Ejaz, continues to argue that the RDA’s jurisdiction does not extend to the campus, as the area was incorporated into the authority’s map only in late 2024. He maintains that the lack of a master plan or zonal development scheme invalidates the demolition directive, which, even if upheld, could only carry a nominal fine.