The ongoing legal battle over the 11th-century Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex intensified on Wednesday as the Muslim side informed the Madhya Pradesh High Court that the site is officially registered as a “mosque” in revenue records. Representing a descendant of Sufi saint Maulana Kamaluddin Chishti, legal counsel argued that historical documentation and available sources do not support the existence of a Saraswati temple established by Raja Bhoj at the site.
The disputed monument, located in the Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, is a protected site under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). While the Hindu community identifies the structure as “Bhojshala,” a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the Muslim side maintains it is the “Kamal Maula Mosque.”
The matter reached the court through Public Interest Litigations (PILs) filed by the Hindu Front for Justice and other individuals, seeking exclusive worship rights for Hindus on the grounds that the structure is a temple.
During the hearing before the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi, advocate Noor Ahmed Sheikh appeared for Qazi Moinuddin. Moinuddin, who claims to be the ‘Sajjadanashin’ (spiritual head) of the site and a descendant of Sufi saint Maulana Kamaluddin Chishti, has challenged the PILs filed by the Hindu organizations.
Advocate Sheikh contended that the complex has been historically and administratively treated as a mosque. Key points raised in the court include:
- Revenue Records: The counsel argued that government revenue records explicitly list the disputed complex as a “mosque.”
- Historical Documentation: The Muslim side asserted that available historical sources do not provide clear evidence of a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati being established there by the 11th-century monarch Raja Bhoj.
- Ancestral Titles: It was further claimed that Moinuddin’s ancestors have historically held titles to the complex, reinforcing the claim of its status as a religious site for the Muslim community.
Conversely, the petitions filed by the Hindu Front for Justice and individual petitioners like Kuldeep Tiwari maintain that the site is fundamentally a Saraswati temple. They have urged the court to grant Hindus the sole right to perform puja and worship within the complex, citing its origins as an educational and religious center established by Raja Bhoj.
The High Court is currently weighing these competing claims of historical identity and administrative records to determine the legal status of the monument.
