The Muslim side has taken the issue to the Supreme Court after the Madhya Pradesh High Court recognized the Bhojshala complex in Dhar as a Hindu temple and granted exclusive worship rights to the Hindu community. A Special Leave Petition (SLP) has been filed challenging the recent verdict, with the matter registered as Diary No. 32281/2026. The plea was submitted late on Thursday and is currently marked as “pending.”
The SLP contests the judgment by the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in the long-standing dispute over the Bhojshala and Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district. In a significant ruling on May 15, Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi declared the Bhojshala complex as a Hindu temple, emphasizing the Hindu community’s uninterrupted right to worship at the site. The High Court nullified a previous Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order allowing namaz at the premises, stating it conflicted with the monument’s established character.
The court’s decision was based on a 2024 archaeological survey documenting Sanskrit inscriptions, a “Havan Kund,” and other Hindu temple features at the site. Following the ruling, the ASI issued new guidelines granting the Hindu community unrestricted access for worship and educational activities related to Goddess Saraswati at the Bhojshala complex. The ASI retained administrative control over the protected monument, superseding all prior arrangements.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court also urged the state government to consider providing alternative land for the Muslim community to build a mosque. The Hindu side, on the other hand, has filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure their involvement in any challenges to the High Court’s decision. The Bhojshala dispute, a contentious issue in central India, revolves around conflicting claims regarding the site’s origin and historical significance.
