The Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar district a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati on May 15, 2024 [2].
This ruling settles a long-standing dispute over the religious identity of the site and removes the legal basis for shared use of the complex. The decision alters the status of a monument that has been a point of contention between Hindu and Muslim communities for decades.
The court based its decision on a survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and on-site evidence [4]. According to the findings, the remnants of an ancient Hindu temple were present, leading the court to conclude that the monument cannot be a mosque [3, 4].
As part of the verdict, the court cancelled a 2003 ASI order [1] that had previously permitted Muslim prayers at the site. This order had established a framework for shared access to the complex, which is now void under the new ruling.
The court also suggested that alternate land be provided for a mosque to accommodate the needs of the Muslim community [2]. This suggestion follows the legal determination that the specific architecture and historical remnants of the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex are consistent with a temple dedicated to the goddess of knowledge and arts.
The ruling comes after the Hindu side presented arguments to the court stating that the site was historically a temple and could not function as a mosque [3, 4]. The court said it accepted these arguments based on the ASI's technical evidence regarding the site's physical structure.
“The Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar district a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.”
This verdict represents a significant legal shift in the management of disputed religious sites in India, prioritizing archaeological evidence from the ASI over previous administrative arrangements. By overturning the 2003 shared-access order, the court has moved toward a definitive religious classification of the site, which may influence similar property disputes across the region.
