Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Dispute: MP High Court Directs ASI To Upload Survey Video On Secure Digital Platform For Litigant

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India to upload the videographic records of the site survey on a digital platform and provide access to Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society of the same. The division bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi directed; "In view of the observations made in para 6 of the order of the Apex Court dated 01.04.2026, we direct Archeological Survey of India to upload the videography of the survey proceedings conducted at the bhojshala site on a secured digital platform such as google drive link or any equivalent cloud based service and to provide access to the counsel for respondent No.8 and to the High Court of MP, Bench at Indore. Since the hearing of the case is going on on a day-to-day basis in the light of the order passed by the Apex Court in the present case, the Archeological Survey of India shall ensure that uploading of the said videography on the Google Drive link is done with top priority by 27.4.2026". For context, the dispute concerns Bhojshala, an 11th-century monument located in Dhar and protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. The site holds religious significance for both Hindus and Muslims.The aforementioned directions came while hearing an application filed by respondent no.8 Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society seeking access to the videographic record of the ASI survey. Appearing for the Society, senior advocate Salman Khurshid relied on the Supreme Court order of April 1, 2026, passed in a connected appeal, which stated that objections regarding the videography must also be considered by the High Court in accordance with principles of natural justice. He argued that access to the footage was necessary for effectively raising objections to the ASI report. The ASI opposed the request, arguing that the survey videography spans approximately 96 days and that displaying such extensive material would be time-consuming. It also contended that the Supreme Court's direction was limited to the High Court's perusal of the footage. Rejecting the submission, the court highlighted that the Supreme Court had clearly envisaged consideration of objections regarding the videographic record. Thus, the court directed ASI to complete the uploading process on a priority basis by April 27, 2026. The court also directed, "Copy of this order passed by this Court shall be communicated by the learned counsel for ASI to the Director General, Archeological Survey of India, New Delhi (respondent No.2) and the Superintendent, Archeological Survey of India, Bhopal Circle, Bhopal (respondent No.3) today itself". In the last hearing, the court had decided to hear the matter on a daily basis from Monday, April 06.Case Title: Hindu Front For Justice v Union of India [WP - 10497/2022 (PIL)]Click here to read/download the Order

Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Dispute: MP High Court Directs ASI To Upload Survey Video On Secure Digital Platform For Litigant

Jayanti Pahwa

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