The Bhojshala complex, a medieval-era building in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district that is claimed by both Muslims and Hindus, was the subject of a “scientific survey” on Monday. The Supreme Court declined to suspend this survey, but it did state that no action should be done about the survey’s findings without its approval.
While the Muslim community refers it Bhojshala, an 11th-century relic protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), as Kamal Maula Mosque, Hindus believe it to be a temple dedicated to Vagdevi, or Goddess Saraswati.
As per the agreement established by the ASI on April 7, 2003, Muslims give namaz in the complex on Fridays, while Hindus do puja in the Bhojshala premises on Tuesdays.
The Centre, the Madhya Pradesh government, ASI, and other parties received notices from a bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and P K Mishra about a case filed by Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society contesting the MP High Court’s ruling on March 11 regarding a scientific survey.
Give a notification that is returnable within four weeks. The bench said that, in the meanwhile, “no action concerning the outcome of the ordered impugned survey should be taken without the leave of this court.”
“It is made clear that no physical excavation should be taken which will change the character of the premises in question,” it said.