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MP High Court Recognises Bhojshala as Hindu Temple in Landmark Verdict

The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has delivered a historic verdict recognizing the Bhojshala complex as a Hindu temple belonging to King Bhoj. The court granted the Hindu side exclusive worship rights while revoking the 2003 ASI order that allowed Muslims to offer namaz at the site. In a significant move, the court directed the government to repatriate the ancient idol of Goddess Saraswati from the British Museum in London. The administration maintained high alert with 1,200 police personnel deployed in Dhar town during the sensitive verdict.

Key Points: MP High Court Recognises Bhojshala as Hindu Temple

  • MP High Court recognises Bhojshala as Hindu temple
  • Exclusive worship rights granted to Hindus
  • 2003 ASI order allowing Muslim namaz revoked
  • Court suggests alternative land for mosque
  • Government directed to repatriate Goddess Saraswati idol from British Museum
2 min read

MP High Court recognises Bhojshala as Hindu temple; sets aside ASI order allowing Muslims to offer namaz

Madhya Pradesh High Court declares Bhojshala a Hindu temple, revokes ASI order allowing Muslim namaz, and grants exclusive worship rights to Hindus.

"The court has recognised the Bhojshala complex as a Hindu temple and the property of King Bhoj. - Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain"

Bhopal/Indore, May 15 The long-standing and highly contentious legal battle over the Bhojshala and Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar has reached a decisive conclusion with the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court delivering a historic verdict.

In a significant ruling that will reshape the religious landscape of the region, the court has recognised the Bhojshala complex as a Hindu temple and the property of King Bhoj.

Consequently, the court has granted the Hindu side the exclusive right to perform worship at the site while dismissing the petitions filed by the Muslim side and the Jain community.

Under the new judicial directives, the previous order by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) dated April 7, 2003, which had allowed the Muslim community to offer namaz at the site, has been completely revoked.

The court has ruled that henceforth only Hindu worship shall take place at the complex.

In consideration of the Muslim community, the court has suggested that the government consider allocating alternative land for a mosque if they so desire.

While the ASI will continue to maintain control over the management of the Bhojshala, the actual right to perform religious rituals remains firmly with the Hindu side.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu front, stated that the court partially set aside the previous administrative orders to prioritise the historical and architectural findings of the recent scientific survey.

The court noted that the facts presented in the survey report were significant in establishing the original character of the site.

Furthermore, the court has directed the government to make formal efforts to repatriate the ancient idol of Goddess Saraswati currently housed in the British Museum in London. This statue was originally installed by King Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty between 1010 and 1055 AD when the site served as a renowned centre for learning.

In anticipation of this sensitive judgment, the state administration remained on high alert with 1,200 police personnel deployed specifically in Dhar town.

District Collector Rajeev Ranjan Meena and other senior officials monitored the situation closely, particularly since the verdict coincided with Friday prayers.

Authorities have maintained strict surveillance on social media to prevent the spread of inflammatory content and have appealed to the public to maintain peace and ignore unconfirmed rumours as the region transitions into this new legal reality.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
I'm relieved the court has finally settled this. The scientific survey clearly showed the original character of the site. But I hope the government genuinely considers allocating alternative land for the Muslim community—peace is paramount. We don't need more tension in Dhar. 🙏
J
James A
Wow, this is huge for India's heritage. The Bhojshala was a center of learning, not a place of conflict. I'm glad the court prioritized historical facts over administrative compromises. The repatriation of the Saraswati idol is a bold move—let's hope the British Museum cooperates!
K
Kavya N
Verdict is fine, but I wish the court had been more inclusive. The Jain community also had claims—why were they dismissed? Also, 1,200 police deployed just for this? We need to move beyond these tensions and focus on development. 😕 Let's hope peace prevails.
S
Siddharth J
Excellent judgment! The court has rightly upheld our cultural heritage. Bhojshala was built by Raja Bhoj as a temple and university—not a place for namaz. The suggestion for alternative land is generous. Kudos to the legal team for this historic win! 🇮🇳🌟
D
Deepak U
A good decision legally, but I worry about the social impact. Friday prayers were interrupted—that's insensitive. The court should have considered the timing better. Let's hope the alternative land offer is taken seriously; otherwise, this could fuel further animosity. 🤔

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