Bhojshala Temple - Kamal Maula Mosque Dispute : Plea In Supreme Court Challenges MP High Court Judges' Decision To Visit Site

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the decision of two judges of the Madhya Pradesh High Court to inspect the Bhojshala Temple cum Kamal Maula Mosque complex in a dispute relating to the true religious character of the structure.

The petition has been filed by the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society, challenging the order passed by a division bench of the High Court on March 16 while hearing a writ petition filed by Hindu Front for Justice seeking recognition of the site as a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati).

Bhojshala is an 11th-century monument protected by the ASI. Hindus consider it a temple dedicated to Vagdevi, or Goddess Saraswati, while Muslims regard it as the Kamal Maula Mosque.

In 2022, the High Court had directed the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey of the site. Recently, the Supreme Court allowed the unsealing of the ASI report filed before the High Court and allowed the parties to file their objections. The High Court was also urged to take up the matter for final hearing.

On March 16, the High Court bench comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi, while posting the matter to April 2 for further hearing, decided that its judges will visit the site. Challenging this order, the Society managing the mosque has approached the Supreme Court.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi will hear the matter on April 1.