The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea on Friday concerning the location of an alternate site designated by the Madhya Pradesh government for Muslim worshippers to offer Friday prayers near the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to seek instructions from state authorities regarding the feasibility of providing a prayer space immediately adjacent to the disputed complex. In response, Mehta informed the court that he would personally review the situation and take necessary corrective measures.
Disagreements Over Distance
Appearing for the Muslim litigants, Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi stated that while the apex court had previously directed the state to allocate an open space near the complex, the property selected by local authorities is located approximately two kilometers away. Ahmadi noted that worshippers had already missed Friday prayers as a result of the distance.
Contesting the claim, the Solicitor General stated that the alternate site is roughly 900 meters from the disputed complex. However, Justice Bagchi emphasized during the hearing that the court’s earlier directions must be implemented in letter and spirit, leading the bench to request updated instructions from the state government ahead of Friday’s proceedings.
Case Background
The current dispute follows a July 14 interim directive issued by the Supreme Court during ongoing appeals against a Madhya Pradesh High Court judgment, which had declared the Bhojshala complex a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. Pending a final verdict on the matter, the top court had instructed state officials to make available a separate open area adjacent to the complex for offering Friday namaz between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
