The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed as withdrawn, the petition filed by former Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, against the alleged takeover and other unjustified actions of the Uttar Pradesh government on the Muhammad Ali Jauhar University at Rampur.
The Apex Court, however, granted liberty to the former SP leader to approach the Allahabad High Court for relief.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Bench of Chief Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and Justice J.B. Pardiwala had directed the Registry to list the matter before an appropriate Bench, after hearing submissions made by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Khan.
Sibal had alleged that the government of Uttar Pradesh had taken several actions against the private university, including demolition of one of its walls.
He further said that Khan has been facing several criminal and other cases lodged by the state government and other authorities.
On September 10, 2021, the government of Uttar Pradesh had reclaimed around 170 acres of the varsity’s land, granted by the Samajwadi government in 2005.
However on April 19 this year, the Apex Court had stayed the action of the state government.
Khan is the Chancellor of the private university, which was established by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University Act 2005.
The then Samajwadi party-led Uttar Pradesh government had granted permission to the University Trust to acquire 400 acres of land against the ceiling of 12.5 acres for the establishment of the varsity, while imposing certain conditions, including that the land would be used only for educational purposes.
According to law, if such a condition is violated, the permission granted by the state government stands withdrawn.