Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque Dispute | MP High Court Directs ASI To Submit Its Survey Report By July 4

A bench of Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice Gajendra Singh has now directed the ASI to submit its report to the Court by July 4.

The High Court, in March this year, directed the ASI to submit its survey report in 6 weeks. However, the ASI submitted before the HC last week that it requires an additional 8 weeks' time to file its survey report.

In its application seeking an extension of time, the ASI submitted that a detailed survey of the complex and peripheral area is in progress, employing scientific tools, and the ASI team is conducting detailed documentation of the entire monument.

The application added that the excavation, which is a very systematic and slow process, is also in progress, and it would require some more time to understand the nature of exposed portions of the structures.

The ASI also apprised the court that, on close examination of the monument, it is observed that later filling in the entrance porch hides the original features of the structure, and its removal must be done very carefully without causing any damage to the original structure, which is a slow and time taking process.

Against this backdrop, the ASI has sought an additional 8 weeks to complete the survey and submit a report to the Court.

It may be noted that on March 11, the Madhya Pradesh High Court (Indore Bench) directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct a scientific investigation, survey and excavation at the Bhojshala Temple cum Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district of the State.

A division bench of the HC had ordered thus while hearing an interlocutory application filed in a pending writ petition (filed by Hindu Front for Justice) seeking a scientific survey of the Temple-Mosque premises.

On April 1, in a plea against the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order directing the ASI to conduct a survey at the Bhojshala Temple cum Kamal Maula Mosque complex, the Supreme Court passed an interim order that no physical excavation should be taken by the ASI which will change the character of the premises in question.

It may be noted that the writ petition before the HC seeks to reclaim the Bhojshala complex on behalf of the Hindus and it also seeks a prohibition on the members of the Muslim community from offering namaaz on its premises.

Bhojshala, an 11th-century monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India, is viewed differently by Hindus and Muslims. Hindus consider it a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while Muslims regard it as the Kamal Maula Mosque. As per a 2003 agreement, Hindus perform puja at the Bhojshala complex on Tuesdays, while Muslims offer namaz there on Fridays.