The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that the Muslim community be provided a separate open space adjacent to the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque site in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district to offer Friday prayers between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
A three-judge bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana clarified that this is a temporary, ad hoc arrangement and remains subject to the final resolution of the ongoing petitions.
In addition to the prayer arrangements, the top court ordered the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) not to execute any structural modifications at the disputed site without obtaining explicit permission from the court.
Appeal for Patience and Day-to-Day Hearings
Describing Bhojshala as a highly sensitive issue, the Supreme Court appealed to both the Hindu and Muslim sides to maintain patience. The bench expressed its willingness to conduct day-to-day hearings to resolve the dispute permanently.
Chief Justice Surya Kant noted that because of the sensitive nature of the case, the court must be extremely cautious with its language to prevent any misunderstandings or unnecessary controversies. The Chief Justice added that the court has taken note of the High Court’s previous order as well as the state government’s difficulties in maintaining law and order.
The court indicated that the current arrangement will remain active for the time being, and the case will be scheduled before an appropriate bench within 10 to 15 days. This scheduling follows a request made on Monday by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi and advocate Nizam Pasha, representing the Muslim appellants, who had urged the court to hear the pleas on an urgent basis. The Chief Justice had advised the counsel to rectify technical defects in their petitions to ensure a swift listing.
High Court Ruling and Background
The Supreme Court is currently reviewing a series of appeals that challenge a May 15 ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
In that decision, the High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar district to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The High Court’s ruling also struck down a decades-old ASI order that had previously permitted the Muslim community to perform Friday prayers inside the complex.
