Madhya Pradesh High Court Stays Demolition Order Against Al-Falah University Chancellor's Ancestral Home

The Madhya Pradesh High Court's Indore bench has temporarily halted proceedings against the ancestral home of Al-Falah University Chancellor Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, who was recently arrested in connection with the Delhi blast investigation.

On Thursday, the court issued an interim stay against the Mhow Cantonment Board's demolition notice that had demanded removal of "unauthorised construction" at the property. The petition challenging the notice was filed by Abdul Majid, the current resident of the house.

Siddiqui's arrest occurred on November 18 when the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches targeting the Al-Falah Group and the Faridabad-based university. Just one day later, the Cantonment Board issued a notice giving only three days to remove the allegedly unauthorized structures, threatening demolition and cost recovery if the deadline wasn't met.

In his petition, 59-year-old Majid identified himself as a farmer and claimed ownership of the property through "hiba" (Islamic gift), stating that Siddiqui transferred the property to him in 2021 following the death of his father, Hammad Ahmed.

Attorney Ajay Bagadia, representing Majid, argued that the Cantonment Board failed to provide his client a proper hearing before issuing the demolition order. Conversely, the Board's lawyer, Ashutosh Nimgaonkar, contended that previous notices regarding the property had received no response, justifying their direct action.

Justice Pranay Verma, who heard the case, noted a significant time gap between notices: "From a perusal of the impugned notice, it appears that though earlier notices were issued to the petitioner but they were in the year 1996/1997 i.e. almost 30 years ago, and thereafter, now the impugned notice has been issued."

The court determined that after such an extended period, Majid should have been afforded a hearing opportunity. Consequently, Justice Verma directed Majid to file his reply with all relevant documentation within 15 days and ordered that he be given a proper hearing.

The court's order specified: "Till the said exercise is completed and for a period of ten days thereafter, in case the order is against the petitioner, no coercive action shall be taken against him. Without expressing any opinion on merits, the petition stands disposed of."

Local officials have confirmed that Siddiqui is originally from Mhow, and his father, Hammad Ahmed, served as the town's qazi (head cleric) for many years before his death. According to Cantonment Board records, the house in question, number 1371 in Mukeri Mohalla, Mhow, remains registered under the late Hammad Ahmed's name.