Bhojshala Temple - Kamal Maula Dispute: MP High Court Asks Parties To File Objections To ASI Survey Report In Two Weeks

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday (February 23), directed all parties to submit their objections and opinions regarding the scientific survey conducted by the Archaeological Survey of India at the disputed Bhojshala Temple cum Kamal Maula Mosque complex.The division bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi further ordered that the status quo of the site be maintained in terms of the Supreme Court order dated January 22, 2026. The bench directed; "It is not in dispute by the parties that the said report has already been supplied to them. They further submitted that till the objections, opinions and recommendations to the said report has not been filed by the parties. In view of the aforesaid, it seems that the fact that the report was opened/unsealed as per the order of this court dated 4-7-2024 was not brought to the notice of the Supreme Court, and therefore, the directions were issued in II (para 2 of the Supreme Court order). In view of the aforesaid, there is now no need to open/unseal the said report in the open court and to supply copies thereafter to both sides. Now the parties are granted two weeks from today to submit their respective objections, opinions, suggestions and/or recommendations (in view of directions contained in 9-III)... The matter is posted for further hearing on March 16, 2026". The dispute concerns Bhojshala, an 11th-century monument protected by the ASI. Hindus regard the site as a temple dedicated to Vagdevi, or Goddess Saraswati, while Muslims regard it as the Kamal Maula Mosque. Under a 2003 arrangement by the ASI, Hindus perform puja at the complex on Tuesdays, while Muslims offer namaz there on Fridays.On March 11, 2024, the High Court had directed the ASI to undertake an investigation and survey using the latest methods at the subject site. The court instructed that the survey be carried out by an expert committee of not less than five senior-most ASI officers. It also ordered comprehensive photography of the premises and permitted the opening of locked and sealed rooms to enable scientific examination of artefacts and structural elements found within. Subsequently, on April 1, 2024, the Supreme Court directed that no action should be taken on the outcome of the survey and that no physical excavation should be undertaken, which may alter the character of the site.On July 4, 2024, the High Court unsealed/opened the survey report of the ASI.The matter is now listed for March 16, 2026. Case Title: QAZI ZAKULLAH v THE STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH [WA - 559/2026]

Bhojshala Temple - Kamal Maula Dispute: MP High Court Asks Parties To File Objections To ASI Survey Report In Two Weeks

Jayanti Pahwa

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