The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Hindu devotees to perform religious rituals from sunrise to sunset at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on the occasion of Basant Panchami, which falls on Friday, January 23. The court also permitted Muslims to offer namaz at the site between 1 pm and 3 pm the same day.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, issued the directions after hearing both Hindu and Muslim groups who had approached the court seeking permission to carry out religious activities at the site on Basant Panchami — a day that coincides with Friday prayers this year.
The court clarified that the existing practice at the monument, where Hindus perform puja on Tuesdays and Muslims offer namaz on Fridays as per an April 2003 arrangement by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), would continue, with necessary adjustments for the special occasion.
To facilitate smooth conduct of religious observances, the Supreme Court instructed the Muslim side to provide in advance a list of persons intending to participate in the Friday prayers to the district administration.
The bench appealed to both communities to maintain mutual respect and cooperate with the authorities in preserving public order. “Let us ensure peace and dignity while exercising our respective rights,” the CJI observed.
The court also directed the Madhya Pradesh state and district administration to ensure adequate law and order arrangements at the site for both religious events.
Background
The Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex is an 11th-century structure protected by the ASI. It has long been a flashpoint of religious dispute between Hindu and Muslim groups. While Hindus regard it as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati (Vagdevi), Muslims identify it as the Kamal Maula mosque.
In 2003, the ASI devised a working arrangement to balance the competing claims: Hindus were permitted to worship on Tuesdays and Muslims to offer namaz on Fridays. However, overlapping religious occasions such as Basant Panchami, which is dedicated to Saraswati and sometimes falls on a Friday, have triggered recurring tensions over access to the site.
The latest petition sought a one-day deviation from the usual arrangement to accommodate both Basant Panchami puja and Friday namaz.
The matter is being closely monitored by the authorities due to its sensitive nature.
