Delhi/Hyderabad, May 22: The Muslim side has approached the Supreme Court of India challenging the recent verdict of the Madhya Pradesh High Court which recognised the Bhojshala complex in Dhar as a Hindu temple and granted exclusive worship rights to the Hindu community.
According to details available on the apex court’s official website, a Special Leave Petition (SLP) has been filed by Quazi Moinuddin. The matter has been registered as Diary No. 32281/2026 and is currently listed as pending.
High Court Recognised Bhojshala As Hindu Temple
The petition challenges the judgment delivered on May 15 by a bench comprising Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
In its ruling, the High Court recognised the Bhojshala Complex as a Hindu temple linked to King Bhoj and held that the Hindu community’s right to worship at the site had never ceased.
The court also set aside the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order issued on April 7, 2003, which had permitted members of the Muslim community to offer namaz at the premises on Fridays.
The High Court observed that the previous arrangement was inconsistent with the established religious character of the monument and ruled that worship rights would remain with the Hindu side.
ASI Issues Fresh Directions After Verdict
Following the verdict, the Archaeological Survey of India issued fresh directions allowing unrestricted access to the Hindu community for worship and learning activities associated with Goddess Saraswati at the complex.
The ASI clarified that the revised framework would replace earlier arrangements while administrative control over the protected monument would continue with the department.
The High Court judgment reportedly relied on findings from a 2024 archaeological survey, which identified Sanskrit inscriptions, a havan kund and several architectural features associated with Hindu temple structures and centres of Sanskrit learning.
The court also directed the Union government to make efforts to bring back the idol of Goddess Saraswati believed to be housed in the British Museum.
Hindu Side Files Caveat In Supreme Court
Meanwhile, the Hindu side has already filed a caveat petition in the Supreme Court seeking an opportunity to be heard before any interim order is passed on the challenge to the High Court verdict.
The caveat was filed by Jitendra Singh Vishen through his counsel.
The Bhojshala dispute has remained one of central India’s most sensitive religious and historical legal battles. The Hindu side claims the site was established by King Bhoj in 1034 AD as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and a centre for Sanskrit education, while the Muslim side maintains that the Kamal Maula Mosque has existed at the site for centuries.
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