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Court Decision on Eviction Case

The Allahabad High Court has issued a stay on the final ruling in a consolidated case involving former MP Azam Khan and several other defendants related to forced eviction allegations.

Justice Dinesh Pathak delivered this order in response to a petition filed by co-accused Mohammad Islam, also known as Islam Contractor, among others. The court has instructed that the case will be re-heard on July 3, while allowing proceedings in the subordinate court to continue.

However, it has been made clear that no final ruling will be issued until the hearing on July 3.

This case pertains to an incident from October 15, 2016, involving the demolition of an unauthorized structure known as the Yatim Khana (Waqf No. 157). Between 2019 and 2020, twelve FIRs were registered at the Kotwali police station in Rampur district regarding this matter.

Initially, separate cases were filed concerning these FIRs, which were later consolidated by the special judge for MPs and MLAs in Rampur district on August 8, 2024.

All accused in this case face charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for robbery, trespassing, and criminal conspiracy.

On June 11, the court reached this decision after hearing arguments from the petitioners' lawyer, expressing concerns about procedural fairness as the subordinate court is committed to resolving the case within June.

Additionally, a hearing is scheduled today (Wednesday) regarding a petition filed by Azam Khan and his associate Virendra Goyal, challenging the subordinate court's decision from May 30, 2025. This decision had rejected requests to summon key witnesses, including Zafar Ahmed Farooqi, the chairman of the Sunni Central Waqf Board, and to present video evidence of the 2016 eviction incident.

The petitioners argue that this evidence could demonstrate Farooqi's absence at the scene.