The ruling favours the development authority after years of dispute; officials begin boundary work as residents question the impact on education and minority institutions
MORADABAD — A long-running legal dispute involving Jamia Arabia Hayat-ul-Uloom Madrasa has ended with authorities taking control of more than three hectares of land in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, following a decision in favour of the administration by Allahabad High Court.
A division bench comprising Justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Vivek Saran issued the order earlier this week.
Officials said the land, located in the Majehola area on Delhi Road, was taken over after the court upheld the claim of the Moradabad Development Authority. Soon after the action, teams began constructing a boundary wall around the site.
According to officials, the dispute over the land has been ongoing for nearly two decades. The madrasa, established in 1980, had been involved in multiple rounds of litigation over ownership of plots recorded under specific land numbers.
Pankaj Verma, an official associated with the local authority, said, “The matter has been in court for many years. The final decision has come in favour of the development authority, and we have acted accordingly.”
Records cited by officials suggest that the authority had earlier claimed possession in the year 2000. The madrasa committee challenged the decision in court several times over the years, but its petitions were dismissed at different stages, including in 2005, 2008, and in further proceedings.
In the latest development, the court reaffirmed that the land legally belongs to the authority and that due process had been followed.
However, the action has raised concerns among sections of the local Muslim community, who see the issue not only as a legal matter but also one affecting access to religious and educational spaces.
A resident said, “This madrasa has been part of the area for years. People are worried about what this means for students and the community.”
Another resident added, “There should be clarity and fairness. Institutions linked to education should not face uncertainty.”
So far, no official statement has been issued by the madrasa management regarding the latest action. Observers say the response from the institution will be important in understanding the next steps.
The development comes amid wider debates in the state over actions involving religious and educational institutions, with calls from community members for transparency and balanced handling of such matters.
