Complaint against Azam Khan’s Trust for madrassa land encroachment

LUCKNOW: Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madrassa Education (UPBME), Iftikhar Ahmad Javed, has alleged encroachment on the land of an 18th century madrassa in Rampur by the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, headed by Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan.
In a letter to Governor Anandiben Patel, Javed said a major portion of the land of the 240-year-old Government Oriental College (Madrassa Aaliya) was taken over by the Trust when the Samajwadi Party was in power (2012-17).
Acting on the complaint, the Governor’s office on Monday directed the education department to conduct an inquiry and take appropriate action in the matter.
“Most of the staff members of the madrassa have already retired and those who remain will also retire in 2024. The SP government was completely apathetic towards the development of the institution,” he said.
“The madrassa has been reduced to a two-room structure. Its land, furniture, library and other valuables were practically taken over by the Trust in 2016. Currently, there are 53 students in classes 1-8 who study in a two-room structure. Classes 9-12 remain suspended for the want of teachers,” Javed said.
“It is disappointing that Khan encroached upon the land of a madrassa which is the first college of Rampur. Students from all over the world used to come here to study Arabic, Persian and theology,” he added. With his letter, Javed also attached a plaint purportedly forwarded to him by Madrassa Aaliya making the same allegations.
“The college was provided Rs 1.76 crore in 2004-2006 but the basic requirements of staff and teachers were not fulfilled,” he added.