On April 1, the Supreme Court rejected a plea to halt the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) survey at the disputed sites of Bhojshala and Kamal Maula Masjid in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. However, the court ordered that no action should be taken without its permission based on the survey’s outcome.
Additionally, the Supreme Court issued a notice on a petition challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s directive for the ASI to conduct a survey at the disputed sites. The High Court’s order on March 11 instructed the ASI to conduct a scientific survey of the medieval-era Bhojshala structure in Dhar district and submit an updated report within six weeks.
In an interim direction, the Supreme Court stated that no action should be taken without its permission based on the survey’s findings. It emphasized that no physical excavation should occur at the disputed sites that would alter their character.
Bhojshala is considered an 11th-century monument by Hindus, dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community regards it as Kamal Maula Mosque. The ASI, in an agreement dated April 7, 2003, allows Muslims to offer namaz on Fridays and Hindus to perform puja on Tuesdays at the complex.
The bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and P K Mishra issued notices to the Centre, Madhya Pradesh government, ASI, and others in response to a plea filed by the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society challenging the High Court’s order for a scientific survey.
The bench directed, “Issue notice returnable in four weeks. In the interim, no action should be taken without the leave of this court on the outcome of the ordered impugned survey. It is made clear that no physical excavation should be taken which will change the character of the premises in question.”
