A bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.

The ruling settles a long-standing dispute over the religious identity of the site in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh. By designating the complex as a temple, the court fundamentally alters the legal status of the property and the rights associated with its use.

In the judgment delivered on May 15, 2023 [1], the court determined that the religious character of the site is that of a temple. "The religious character of the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex is that of a Saraswati temple," the bench said.

The court based its decision on the finding that Hindu worship at the site had continued over the years. The bench concluded that the religious character of the disputed complex was that of Bhojshala, described as a temple of Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati, the court said.

Because the court identified the site as a temple, it directed the state government to consider allotting separate land for a mosque. This directive aims to provide an alternative location for Islamic worship following the loss of the disputed complex.

The case centered on the historical and religious identity of the structure in the Dhar district. The ruling emphasizes the court's view that the original and continuing nature of the site is tied to the worship of the goddess.

“"The religious character of the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex is that of a Saraswati temple."”

This ruling reflects a judicial trend in India where courts are increasingly weighing historical and archaeological claims to determine the ownership of disputed religious sites. By suggesting the state provide alternate land, the court is attempting to mitigate the social tension resulting from the removal of mosque status from a shared or contested space.