Madhya Pradesh High Court Declares Bhojshala Complex as Temple

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that the Bhojshala complex in Dhar is a temple dedicated specifically to Goddess Saraswati. In light of this decision, the High Court suggested that the Muslim community could approach the state government to allocate separate land in the district for building a mosque.

The Hindu community considers the ASI-protected Bhojshala site as a temple, while the Muslim community identifies it as the Kamal Maula Mosque. A Jain petitioner added to the contention by claiming historical ties to the site as a medieval Jain temple. Amid these disputes, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) found that the structure dates back to the Parmar kings, predating the mosque.

The ASI conducted a detailed scientific survey illustrating that parts of the current structure were built using temple components. Although the Hindu community has cited these findings to assert their historical claims, Muslim representatives argued that the survey showed bias. The High Court's verdict is based on multiple petitions and extensive hearings that considered varying religious beliefs and historical evidence.

(With inputs from agencies.)