MP High Court orders ‘scientific survey’ of disputed monument Bhojshala in Dhar within 6 weeks.

Madhya Pradesh HC gives nod for ASI survey of Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Indore | March 11, 2024:: The Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday while hearing a petition filed by Hindu Front for Justice, has directed to conduct a survey of Dhar Bhojshala on the lines of Gyanvapi in Kashi. After hearing the issue on Monday, the court directed the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) to constitute a team of five experts to conduct a survey of the site and submit its report in six weeks. The petition was filed by Hindu Front for Justice on 1st May 2022 in the Indore bench of the MP High Court.

As such, now the disputed temple-mosque site will come under the lens of the Archaeological Survey of India after Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque. This time, it is the Bhojshala at Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar, where it has to conduct a survey. The order came from the Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court today following a petition by the right-wing group Hindu Front. This will be the fourth site to undergo excavation/survey after the ones in Ayodhya, Varanasi and Mathura.

“Get the survey done. Photos and videos should be made. The report should be given to the court before April 29, during the next hearing,” said a bench of Justices SA Dharmadhikari and Dev Narayan Mishra.

The ASI has been asked to use all the methods and state-of-the-art equipment at their disposal, including Ground Penetration Radar System and carbon dating to ascertain the age of the structure.

The petitioners have asked for the right to daily worship at the site if a survey shows the existence of a temple and objected the dual worship (Hindu and Muslim) without detecting its original identity. The Hindu side also have argued that Kamal Maula Mosque was constructed during the reign of Alauddin Khilji between the 13th and 14th centuries by “destroying and dismantling ancient structures of previously constructed Hindu temples.

In its order, the court said the ASI must conduct a “complete scientific investigation, survey and excavation , through adoption of latest methods, techniques and modes of GPR-GPS survey of the site in question constituting the disputed Bhojshala Temple cum Kamal Maula Mosque complex”. This would include the entire 50m of peripheral ring area from the boundary of the complex.

A detailed scientific investigation also has to be conducted through carbon dating of various structures “both above and beneath the ground”. The ASI also has to open locked or sealed rooms, halls and prepare a complete inventory of each and every artifact, idol, deity, or any structure. But this should be done without “destroying, defacing, destructing the original nature of the whole complex”.

The survey should be conducted under the leadership of an expert Committee of at least five senior-most officials of ASI, headed by the Director General or the Additional Director General and the report submitted to the court within six weeks.

“Efforts should be made to have a representation of Officers of both the contesting communities (if available of the said position & rank) in the said Expert Committee,” the order read.

The bench said after it receives the report, it will hear the claim of petitioner for restoration of the right to daily worship. The court will also hear the matter of investigation into the Waqf of Kamal Maula Masjid.

The site at Dhar, where a temple complex dedicated to Goddess Saraswati exists, has long been a cause of friction. Currently, worship is allowed on Tuesdays and on Vasant Panchami. Namaz is offered at the Kamal Maula Masjid every Friday.

Many claim the temple complex was part of a celebrated college built by king Bhoja (1000-1055 AD), said to be the greatest monarch of the Paramara dynasty. The college came to be known as Bhojshala (banquet hall), where students came from across the country for a feast of knowledge. The structure was converted to a mosque during Muslim rule. The image of the Goddess Saraswati is now in a museum in London.

Taking her X handle,  Advocate Ranjana Agnihotri, senor member of Hindu Front for Justice, expressed her concern as: “Today, Indore High Court has passed a historic order of ASI survey, photography, videography of Bhojshala located in Dhar and added a diamond in the chain of protection of religion and culture. Many congratulations and best wishes to the team and team leader of Bhojshala, Honorable Hari Shankar Jain ji.”

On the other hand, Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain told PTI, “Today, the Indore High Court has accepted by plea in related to the Bhojshala Temple, and has ordered an ASI survey. The court has also formed a five-member committee and has asked it to submit the report within six weeks.”

In an interview with News18, eminent author A Ranganathan says, ” a true Indian-loving Muslim would, by his or her own volition, say, ‘Look, this belongs to my civilization as well, please let us both reclaim the temple again’ This is not a religious issue at all.”

The reactions of communal sides of Kamal Maula Mosque are still awaited.

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__Inputs from NDTV & PTI.