The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday recognised the Bhojshala complex in Dhar as a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), in a verdict on the long-standing dispute involving the Kamal Maula mosque, and set aside a 2003 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order that had allowed Muslims to offer prayers at the site.
The ruling was delivered by a division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which held that historical records and literary evidence supported the identification of the Bhojshala complex as a centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty.
The court observed, “We have noted the continuity of Hindu worship at the site through regulated worship over time, which has never been extinguished,” and said historical and architectural references pointed to the existence of a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
It further stated that the Government of India may consider repatriating the idol of Goddess Vagdevi from the British Museum in London, while noting that the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society or any other Waqf body may seek alternative land in Dhar for establishing a mosque.
The court added that the overall administration and upkeep of the property will remain with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), even as it set aside the earlier order permitting Muslim prayers at the Bhojshala–Kamal Maula mosque complex.
Reacting to the verdict, advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain called it a “historic judgment”, saying the court had recognised the Bhojshala complex as associated with Raja Bhoj and upheld the right of Hindu worship. He added that the court had directed the government to consider both the repatriation of the idol and allocation of alternative land for the Muslim side, while allowing Hindu rituals to continue and keeping the site under ASI supervision.
Security was tightened in Dhar district ahead of the verdict, with authorities deploying additional police forces and appealing for calm amid heightened sensitivities around the site.
Dhar District Collector Rajiv Ranjan Meena urged residents to maintain peace and avoid spreading rumours, saying the administration was closely monitoring misinformation and would take strict action against those attempting to disturb order.
“The executive magistrate and police force have been deployed, and we are keeping a watch on all the significant aspects,” he said.
The dispute over the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex has for years centred on competing claims over its religious identity. Hindu petitioners have maintained that the Bhojshala complex is a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), while Muslim petitioners have argued it is the site of the Kamal Maula mosque.
The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court had reserved its judgment on May 12 after completing nearly 25 days of hearings spanning arguments from petitioners, respondents, interveners and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
According to lawyers involved in the case, the ASI submitted detailed responses defending its survey report, which runs into over 2,000 pages and was conducted under court directions with findings covering structural and historical analysis of the complex.
Legal proceedings concluded after final arguments from all parties, with the court reserving its verdict for pronouncement at a later date.
Under a 2003 arrangement, Hindu devotees have been allowed to perform puja at the complex on Tuesdays from sunrise to sunset, while Muslims offer namaz on Fridays between 1 pm and 3 pm.
(With inputs from agencies)
