The MP High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex a temple, granting the Hindu side worship rights. Devotees entered the premises to offer prayers, welcoming the verdict. The ASI will continue to supervise the protected monument.
Devotees entered the Bhojshala complex in Dhar district on Saturday to offer prayers after the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex a temple and granted the Hindu side the right to worship at the site.
A few devotees gathered and offered prayers inside the premises today following the court's order. A devotee welcomed the verdict and said they were now able to offer prayers without restrictions. "After years, we got the chance to have darshan without any obstacle. The court gave a great verdict. I will come here every day to offer prayers," the devotee told the reporters.
Court Verdict and ASI's Role
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday delivered a verdict, granting the Hindu side the right to worship and recognising the complex as belonging to Raja Bhoj. ASI Lawyer Aviral Vikas Khare highlighted the legal framework of the decision, stating, "The key highlights of this order are that the Bhojshala site has been designated as a 'Protected Monument,' a status it has held since the year 1904. This implies that the entire administration and regulation of this monument shall remain exclusively with the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India); in essence, the supervision of this site will rest solely with the ASI."
The court ruled that the disputed site is fundamentally a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi, dating back to the Bhoj-Parmar dynasty, and overturned the previous ASI order. "The court determined the character of the site, affirming that it was historically the location of a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) and that it was constructed during the era of the Bhoj/Parmar dynasty. Based on this determination of its character, the Hindu community has been granted the right to offer worship at the site. Additionally, the ASI's previous order--which had granted the Muslim community permission to offer 'Namaz' (prayers) on Fridays for a specific duration--has been modified. The complex itself will remain under the custody of the ASI," he said.
Hindu Side Hails 'Historic' Judgment
Addressing media personnel after the MP High Court's order, Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu side, termed the judgment as "historic," noting that the court has partially set aside the Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) order dated April 7, 2003. "The Indore High Court has delivered a historic verdict, partially setting aside the ASI's order dated April 7, 2003. Furthermore, the Court has granted the Hindu side the right to worship and has recognised the Bhojshala complex as belonging to Raja Bhoj," Jain said.
The advocate further revealed that the court addressed the demand for the repatriation of the idol, which is currently housed in a museum in London.
Legal Challenges Anticipated
Meanwhile, two caveat pleas have been moved in the Supreme Court hours after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed complex a temple, anticipating that parties from the Muslim side may challenge the verdict before the apex court. Pending adjudication, the State authorities had put in place a shared arrangement for religious practices while the site remained under the supervision of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which had also surveyed the complex.
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