New Delhi. SP leader Azam Khan has received a setback from the Supreme Court in a case related to Jauhar Trust. The Supreme Court has refused to interfere in the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to cancel the lease of government land to Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust in Rampur. Chief Justice of the apex court Justice DY Chandrachud reprimanded former UP minister Azam Khan and said that records show that the ministerial post was misused. A bench of the apex court comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra rejected the plea of Johar Trust challenging the order canceling the lease deed.
Johar Trust had appealed in the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court’s decision given on March 18, 2024. The High Court had also rejected the petition of Jauhar Trust against the decision of the UP government taken on March 31, 2023. The CJI said that the facts of the case clearly highlight abuse of office and when the facts are so clear, denial of reasonable notice cannot be a major violation. The Supreme Court bench expressed concern over the fact that the lease arrangement was initially for a government institution, yet it was handed over to a private trust.
The Supreme Court asked the question whether the lease fixed for a government institution can be handed over to a private trust and if yes, then what is the procedure for this? Let us tell you that many other cases including the Dungarpur case against Azam Khan are currently pending in the court. Azam is currently lodged in Sitapur jail of UP. Azam’s son Abdullah Azam is also in jail in two passport cases. However, his wife Tanzeem Fatima was released from jail on bail in May this year.
