The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted members of the Muslim community to offer Friday prayers at a dargah situated next to the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana instructed the state government to facilitate access for prayers between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. every Friday.
The directive comes after petitioners led by Haji Muneer Ahmad approached the apex court alleging that local authorities had failed to comply with an earlier order. The Muslim side stated that the Dhar district administration offered a prayer location situated 1.3 kilometers away from the disputed complex, rather than an adjacent area. The petitioners maintained that the designated space must be close enough for worshippers to view the mosque while offering namaz.
Court Directives And Alternative Options
Addressing the application, the top court stated that its order allowing prayers at the neighboring dargah premises will remain in effect while the overall case is pending. The bench also clarified that its ruling does not restrict state authorities and the Muslim side from mutually agreeing upon a different site for Friday prayers.
The latest direction builds upon an interim order issued by the court on July 14, which had instructed authorities to designate a separate open area adjacent to the Bhojshala complex for Friday namaz between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. until a final decisions is reached.
High Court Ruling And Legal Background
The legal dispute over the site heightened following a May 15 ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, which declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
In its decision, the High Court invalidated a long-standing Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order that had allowed Muslims to perform Friday prayers within the complex. The High Court concluded that authority over the management and administration of the Bhojshala complex lies with the Central Government and the ASI.
