UP: Aligarh civic body, AMU tussle over land near campus

“We took possession of the land after AMU failed to produce any documents to establish its claim,” claimed Veer Singh, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, Aligarh. “As per revenue records, the land is classified as government property,” said Singh.

He added that the administration had been “engaging with” the university over the matter for the past year, repeatedly asking it to submit relevant documents. “Despite several opportunities, AMU did not respond, prompting us to initiate the process of taking custody of the land,” Singh claimed.

The land in question, at present a field, was under the university’s possession and was reportedly used for horse riding activities. There was no construction on the plot, sources said.

AMU, however, maintains that the disputed land — known as the Riding Field — “rightfully belongs” to the university. “The land was acquired by AMU under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894,” claimed Omar S Peerzada, Public Relations Officer, AMU. He added that the university has been in uninterrupted possession of the land for nearly 80 years, using it primarily for the activities of its Riding Club and related purposes.

Peerzada also claimed that the university has not received any formal notice from the AMC regarding the matter, which, he said, would have given AMU the opportunity to present its stand.

A note issued by the university claimed that the institution possesses all the relevant documents, archival records and legal evidence supporting its claim, which are being submitted to the appropriate legal forums. The AMU denied that the land was occupied illegally.

The university assured its stakeholders that it is committed to protecting its assets and institutional integrity, and is taking all necessary steps in this regard with due diligence.

“Aligarh Muslim University is a central university that adheres fully to legal norms, institutional propriety, and constitutional responsibility in all its affairs. The University is taking appropriate legal and administrative measures to safeguard its legitimate rights,” said the statement.

According to sources, the dispute dates back nearly two years when the district administration approached the AMU seeking permission to install a pillar on the land for a proposed flyover between Nagla Patwari and Purani Chungi. The land was then under the university’s possession, the sources said.

It is alleged that after the university denied permission, the administration examined land records and found that the plot was registered as government land, allegedly encroached upon by the university.

Confirming the development, Digvijay Singh, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Aligarh, said the AMU eventually granted permission to install the pillar, following which the flyover was constructed.