Representative image. | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto
The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court temporarily stayed the Mhow Cantonment Board’s notice to remove an “unauthorised structure” at the ancestral home of Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, chancellor of Al-Falah University, which is at the center of the Delhi blast probe.
The court on Thursday (Nov. 20) issued a preliminary injunction and ruled on a motion by a resident of the house who challenged the board’s call.
Mr. Siddiqui was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on November 18 after the agency conducted searches on the group, related persons and the Faridabad-based university.
The council issued a notice on 19 November stating that the “unauthorised structure” must be removed within three days or the council would remove it in accordance with relevant statutory provisions and recover the costs from the occupier or legal heirs of the property owner.
Abdul Majid (59), who lives in the house, challenged the notice in the high court.
Mr Majid, who identified himself as a farmer, said in his petition that Mr Siddiqui gifted him the property in 2021 as a hiba – an Islamic endowment – after the death of his father Hammad Ahmed and that he owns it under a hibanama.
Mr. Majid’s counsel Ajay Bagadia argued in the Supreme Court that the Cantonment Board had issued the notice without hearing his client and issued a direct order to demolish the house. He submitted that the petitioner should be given an opportunity of being heard.
Cantonment Board advocate Ashutosh Nimgaonkar argued that notices related to this house had been issued earlier but no reply was submitted and therefore the petitioner should not be given time to file a reply.
The High Court issued an interim order on Thursday, allowing the suit filed by Mr. Majid.
“Previous Notices Delivered 30 Years Ago”
“From a perusal of the impugned notice, it appears that though earlier notices were issued to the petitioner, they were in 1996/1997, almost 30 years ago, and thereafter, now the impugned notice has been issued,” Justice Pranay Verma said after hearing the petitioner and the board.
“If any action is to be taken against the petitioner after the lapse of almost 30 years from the date of issue of the previous notice, he should have been given an opportunity of hearing. Hence, from the available facts of the case, it appears that the petitioner should submit his reply along with all relevant documents to the respondents/authority concerned within a period of 15 days from today,” the HC said.
Thereafter, the petitioner shall be given due opportunity of hearing and a reasoned order of appearance shall be issued in the matter.
“Until the completion of the said act and for a period of ten days thereafter, in the event that the order is directed against the petitioner, no coercive measures will be taken against him. Without commenting on the matter itself, the petition is disposed of,” said the High Court.
According to officials, Mr. Siddiqui hails from Mhow. His father Hammad Ahmed, who served as the city’s qazi (chief cleric) for many years, had died a long time ago.
They said Cantonment Board records show house number 1371 at Mukeri Mohalla, Mhow in the name of late Mr. Hammad Ahmed.
Published – 22 Nov 2025 22:08 IST
