The district administration last year cleared land in Nagla Patwari and Bhamola areas, where the AMU riding club operated for decades
ALIGARH – A dispute between Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and the Aligarh district administration over 41 bigha of land has now led to the state government ordering a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.
Last year, between 30 April and 1 May 2025, the district administration and the municipal corporation carried out a joint drive in the Nagla Patwari and Bhamola areas. During the operation, 41 bigha of land was “cleared from AMU’s possession”, and a municipal corporation board was installed at the site.
The land was being used by AMU for its riding club and, according to university sources, had been under its control for nearly 80 years.
Following the action, AMU presented its case before the state authorities. The Principal Secretary has now directed that the matter be investigated by an SIT.
The Divisional Commissioner’s office has sought a full report from the district administration, which is expected to be sent to Lucknow shortly.
The SIT is expected to examine how the land remained with AMU for decades and whether there was any lapse on the part of officials in maintaining or verifying records.
A senior official said, “The purpose of the SIT is to establish the facts. We will examine land records, past correspondence and the role of concerned departments.”
The controversy dates back to 2023, when permission was sought from AMU to install pillars for a flyover project stretching from Nagla Patwari to the old Chungi area.
AMU reportedly refused permission, stating that the land belonged to the university.
After this, the revenue department conducted a review of the land records. According to officials, the records did not show AMU’s name, and the land was recorded as belonging to the municipal corporation.
A municipal official said, “Once the records were checked and it was found that the land was registered in the name of the corporation, action was taken as per procedure.”
When the land was cleared in 2025, several student leaders at AMU raised serious questions about the university’s internal management.
One student leader said, “If this land had been with the university for so many years, why were the documents not properly updated in official records? There seems to have been negligence.”
Students alleged that the university administration failed to ensure that property records were correctly entered in the revenue database at the right time.
At the same time, AMU authorities have maintained that they will place their position before the court and the government.
An AMU representative said, “We have historical possession of this land. We will present all relevant documents before the appropriate authorities and seek justice through legal means.”
The riding club operated on the disputed land was part of the university’s activities. Some students expressed concern about the manner in which the action was carried out.
A postgraduate student said, “Many of us feel that the matter could have been resolved through dialogue before such a large operation took place.”
Locals, however, said the issue should be settled on the basis of official records and law.
One shopkeeper near the area said, “If the land belongs to the municipal corporation, then the administration has the right to take it back. But if AMU has valid documents, that should also be considered. The truth should come out.”
With the SIT now ordered, attention has turned to what the investigation will reveal about the ownership history and administrative handling of the land.
The case has drawn attention because of AMU’s historical and educational importance. Many observers say the findings of the SIT will be important not only for this specific dispute but also for how institutional land records are managed in the future.
For now, both sides await the outcome of the probe, which is expected to clarify the legal status of the 41 bigha plot and determine whether there were lapses in documentation or procedure.
