Supreme Court To Hear Pleas Against MP HC Verdict On Bhojshala Temple Claim

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a batch of appeals challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court's verdict regarding the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district. The appeals were filed by Muslim petitioners against the High Court order that described the protected heritage site as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The matter will now be listed for hearing before an appropriate bench after procedural requirements are completed.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohna considered the request made by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi and advocate Nizam Pasha, who appeared for the Muslim appellants. The lawyers sought an urgent hearing of the petitions challenging the High Court ruling. The Chief Justice asked the counsel to remove defects in the petitions and assured that the matters would be placed before a bench for hearing soon.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, in its order on May 15, ruled that the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district was a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The court also set aside a decades-old order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which had allowed members of the Muslim community to offer Friday prayers at the site. The High Court further observed that the Centre and the ASI could take decisions regarding the administration and management of the complex.

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The Bhojshala complex has remained a subject of dispute between Hindu and Muslim groups for several years. Members of the Hindu community consider the site to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while the Muslim community refers to the structure as the Kamal Maula Mosque, an 11th-century monument. The site is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, which has maintained regulations governing access and religious activities at the location.

Following the High Court verdict, Muslim petitioners approached the Supreme Court seeking relief against the order. The appeals challenge the findings and directions issued by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, with the petitioners requesting that the matter be examined by the apex court. The Supreme Court's decision to hear the pleas marks the beginning of the next stage of legal proceedings in the long-standing dispute.

Meanwhile, Hindu parties involved in the case have filed caveats before the Supreme Court. Through these caveats, they have requested that no order be passed on any appeal related to the Bhojshala complex dispute without first hearing their side. The move is intended to ensure that all parties connected with the matter are given an opportunity to present their arguments before any interim or final directions are issued.

The case is expected to receive significant attention due to the historical, religious and legal questions surrounding the Bhojshala complex. As the appeals process moves forward, the Supreme Court will examine the legal issues raised by the petitioners and consider arguments from all concerned parties before arriving at any conclusion. Until the apex court delivers its decision, the Madhya Pradesh High Court order remains subject to judicial review as part of the ongoing legal proceedings.

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