Supreme Court Orders Alternative Prayer Space for Bhojshala Dispute

The Supreme Court of India has refused to stay a May 15 ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court that declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. While the apex court declined to restore the previous status quo or allow Friday prayers inside the monument, it directed the Madhya Pradesh government to provide a separate open space adjacent to the complex for Muslim worshippers to pray on Fridays between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The original High Court verdict quashed a 2003 order by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that had allowed shared religious access. That ruling relied on a 2024 ASI scientific survey concluding the structure was built using parts of earlier temples. The High Court further suggested the state allocate separate land for a mosque and recommended the central government retrieve an idol of Goddess Saraswati from the London Museum.

Muslim appellants, including caretaker Qazi Moinuddin, argue the High Court improperly determined the site's character through summary proceedings and violated the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991. In response, the Supreme Court prohibited the ASI from making any structural changes to the site without judicial permission. Chief Justice Surya Kant emphasized the sensitivity of the matter, noting that the cases would be listed before an appropriate bench once petition defects are corrected.