District Magistrate puts hold on change of possession in AMU–municipal land dispute
Aligarh District Magistrate Avinash Kumar on Friday directed that a 3.8-acre parcel, contested by Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and the Aligarh Municipal Corporation, remain in the possession of the university until the matter is decided by the sub‑divisional magistrate (SDM) court where a suit is pending.
The DM said the two parties are government institutions and that the dispute should be resolved through legal processes rather than through confrontation. He told reporters the land will stay with the university until a judicial determination at the SDM court.
- Location: Plot within the AMU Riding Club grounds.
- Area in dispute: 3.8 acres.
- Legal status: Ownership case pending before the SDM court since 29 March 2025.
The clash escalated on Thursday after civic officials began erecting a fence around the plot. University authorities described the municipal action as a "forcible occupation", while the civic body maintained its records indicate the land has been municipal property for the past four decades.
"Since both the contending parties are government institutions, it would not be appropriate that any confrontation exists. The matter should be resolved amicably through due process of law,"
According to university officials who appeared before the DM, AMU produced an original 1923 land title and a gazette notification issued by the United Provinces government, along with documents from the then governor of Uttar Pradesh dated 1940 that mention allotment of the land to AMU.
AMU has alleged that land records were tampered with in 1992 and that the university only became aware of the issue in 2003. The university said it had filed the case in the SDM court on 29 March 2025 and that the matter remains sub judice.
In a statement, an AMU official criticised the manner of the municipal operation, saying it was carried out "surreptitiously in cover of darkness" and suggested the timing and conduct of the action raised questions about its intent.
Former head of AMU's Public Relations Department, Rahat Abrar, said the university had received extensive land grants since the late 19th century but successive administrations had not adequately safeguarded AMU properties. He attributed recurring problems to what he described as long‑standing neglect and institutional weaknesses within the university's property department.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1923 | Original land title dated (produced by AMU). |
| 1940 | Gazette/communication from the governor mentioning allotment to AMU. |
| 1992 | AMU alleges records were tampered with. |
| 2003 | AMU says it first learned of the alleged tampering. |
| 29 Mar 2025 | AMU approached SDM court; ownership dispute pending. |
| 21–22 Aug 2026 | Municipal officials began fencing the plot; DM ordered status quo. |
The dispute places a spotlight on competing claims over urban land within Aligarh, where institutional boundaries between a central educational establishment and municipal governance intersect. The DM's directive for status quo effectively pauses any change of possession, but it does not resolve the underlying title controversy.
Legal experts say such interim administrative orders are intended to prevent escalation on the ground while judicial processes proceed. For AMU, a ruling in its favour would reaffirm long‑standing campus boundaries and control over the Riding Club grounds; for the civic body, a favourable finding would validate municipal record entries and its asserted control over the land for several decades.
Both sides are expected to present documentary evidence and historical records before the SDM court. Meanwhile, the DM's order aims to keep the situation calm and maintain administrative propriety until the competent judicial forum adjudicates the matter.
The case will now await the SDM court's decision, which will determine title and possession. Until then, the 3.8‑acre plot remains under AMU's custody as per the DM's instruction.
