Bhojshala dispute settled: Court rules in favour of Hindu community, orders government to find alternative land for Mosque

BHOPAL: In a landmark judgment, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar district is a Hindu temple. A division bench comprising Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi delivered the final verdict, effectively overturning a 2003 order by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that permitted Muslims to offer Friday prayers on the premises.

While the ASI will retain administrative control over the historic monument, the court explicitly granted exclusive rights to perform religious rituals to the Hindu community. The bench added that if the Muslim community wishes to construct a mosque, they must approach the state government for an alternative allotment of land.

The Bhojshala complex has long been a flashpoint of communal dispute. The Hindu community maintains that the site is an ancient shrine dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, whereas the Muslim side contends it has functioned as the Kamal Maula Mosque for centuries.

In its ruling, the High Court observed that Hindu worship at the site had remained uninterrupted throughout history. This aligns with the arguments presented by the Hindu petitioners, who cited historical documents, coins, sculptures, and ancient inscriptions to prove the structure's original temple identity.

The legal battle intensified following the ASI's 2003 arrangement allowing weekly Islamic prayers. In response to petitions challenging this decision, the High Court ordered a comprehensive scientific survey of the complex on March 11, 2024. The ASI commenced its investigation on March 22, submitting a detailed report to the court after an exhaustive 98-day excavation and analysis.

In a significant directive, the High Court also instructed the government to initiate efforts to repatriate an ancient idol of Goddess Saraswati currently housed in the British Museum in London. Historians note that the idol was originally consecrated between 1010 and 1055 AD by King Bhoja of the Paramara dynasty, during an era when the Bhojshala complex flourished as a prominent centre of education and learning.