The Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific survey of the Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex situated in the State’s Dhar district. The court said a study is necessary to “demystify” the nature of the complex.
The site is an ASI-protected, 11th Century CE monument. Under an agreement with the ASI, puja is performed in the temple by Hindus every Tuesday and Namaz offered every Friday.
A Bench of Justices S.A. Dharmadhikari and Devnarayan Mishra gave the directions while hearing a writ petition that seeks the Bhojshala complex to be handed over to the Hindus and demands that Muslims be stopped from offering namaz on its premises. The Bench observed that that “till and until the character or nature of the place of worship or shrine is not determined, decided or ascertained, the purpose of the temple is bound to be enveloped in mystery”.
