Bhojshala Sees Hindu Worship Under Tight Security After High Court Declares Site a Saraswati Temple.

Upendra Bharti | HENB | Dhar (Madhya Pradesh) | May 16, 2026:: A day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and a Sanskrit learning centre, hundreds of Hindu devotees gathered at the historic site on Saturday to perform prayers and religious rituals amid heavy security deployment.

The development marks a major turning point in the decades-old dispute surrounding the religious character of the Bhojshala complex, which has long been claimed by Hindus as a Saraswati temple and by Muslims as the Kamal Maula Mosque.

Devotees Gather for Aarti and Hanuman Chalisa

Members of the Hindu Front for Justice, which represented the Hindu side before the High Court, along with office-bearers of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti and local residents, assembled at the Bhojshala premises early on Saturday. Devotees performed aarti, recited the Hanuman Chalisa with full rituals, and offered prayers to Goddess Saraswati.

Visuals from the site showed devotees chanting religious hymns and celebrating the court verdict, while police personnel maintained strict vigil around the monument and surrounding areas to ensure law and order.

Authorities said the situation in Dhar town and nearby regions remained peaceful despite heightened emotions following the judgment.

A Hindu devotee who participated in the rituals expressed joy over the development.

“We are delighted that we were able to have darshan, and there was no fee, unlike previous times. Now the entire Hindu society can conduct pooja every day. We are elated after yesterday’s verdict, and all of us were crying and dancing with joy,” the devotee said.

Hindu Organisations Welcome Verdict

Rajesh Shukla, a member of the Bhoj Utsav Samiti, described the verdict as a historic moment for the Hindu community and credited the people of Dhar for sustaining the legal and social struggle over the site.

“Thanks to the verdict of the High Court and the struggle of the people of Dhar, this day has come after centuries when we are organising pooja of the Goddess without any obstacle,” Shukla said.

He further expressed hope that an idol of Goddess Saraswati would eventually be installed at the complex.

“We are waiting for the day when the idol of the Goddess will come and we will be able to offer prayers. The Muslim side should accept the verdict of the High Court as the Constitution mandates, just like we were ready to accept,” he added.

High Court Quashes 2003 ASI Order

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday struck down the 2003 order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which had allowed Muslims to offer Friday namaz at the Bhojshala premises under a shared arrangement.

Following the verdict, the ASI issued fresh directions to implement the court’s order and instructed that namaz should not be performed in the disputed Kamal Maula Mosque portion of the site.

The order significantly changes the status quo that had existed for over two decades, under which both communities were allowed regulated access to the monument for religious purposes.

Adv. Vishnu Jain, Lawyer for Hindu Side Outlines Next Legal Steps

Senior advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represented the Hindu side in court, said the immediate priority after the verdict would be to exercise the community’s constitutional right to worship at the premises.

“We will worship in the premises in question. We will exercise our fundamental rights of worship in the premises in question in tune with Article 25, as well as Section 16 of the ASI Act, 1958,” Jain told NDTV.

He also indicated that the legal battle could move to the Supreme Court if the Muslim petitioners challenge the High Court verdict through a Special Leave Petition (SLP).

“In case the Muslim petitioners approach the honourable Supreme Court by way of an SLP, we will also file our caveat, and we will present our arguments before the court,” he said.

Hindu Litigant Files Caveat in Supreme Court

In a swift legal move following the verdict, Hindu petitioner Jitendra Singh Vishen filed a caveat in the Supreme Court to ensure that no order is passed on any appeal without first hearing his side.

The caveat signals the Hindu litigants’ preparedness to defend the High Court ruling before the apex court and highlights the urgency and significance attached to the Bhojshala dispute.

Legal observers noted that such a move is often made in high-profile matters where an immediate appeal is anticipated.

Muslim Side Plans Appeal

Representatives from the Muslim side are expected to challenge the High Court judgment in the Supreme Court in the coming days.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi reacted sharply to the verdict, reportedly comparing the development to the Babri Masjid dispute and urging the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court’s decision.

The expected appeal could set the stage for another major constitutional and religious case before the apex court.

Debate Over Places of Worship Act

Jain argued that the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which mandates maintaining the religious character of places of worship as they existed on August 15, 1947, does not apply to the Bhojshala site.

According to him, the disputed premises fall under laws governing protected monuments, including the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act, 1904, and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

“The Places of Worship Act says that it will not be applicable in places under the control of the Ancient Monuments laws. Therefore, the Act is not applicable to the premises in question,” he said.

The lawyer also termed the 2003 ASI arrangement “erroneous,” arguing that the religious character of the site had to be judicially determined.

“You cannot enter into a temple and offer namaz, and vice versa. If an erroneous order has been passed by any authority, it is always subject to judicial review,” Jain stated.

Wider Legal and Political Implications

Legal analysts believe the Bhojshala verdict could have implications beyond Dhar, particularly because the High Court reportedly relied on archaeological findings and legal principles similar to those referenced in the Ayodhya judgment.

Observers say the ruling may influence arguments in other religious-site disputes involving historical claims, protected monuments, and competing interpretations of the Places of Worship Act.

The case is therefore being closely watched by legal experts, political groups, and religious organisations across the country.

Tight Security in Dhar

In anticipation of possible communal tensions after the verdict, district authorities deployed heavy police forces across Dhar town, especially around the Bhojshala complex. Barricades, surveillance teams, and rapid response units were stationed in sensitive areas.

Officials said the security arrangements were precautionary and confirmed that no untoward incidents had been reported.

A Long-Running Dispute Comes to an End?

The Bhojshala complex, believed to have been established in the 11th century around 1034 CE during the reign of Paramara king Bhoja, has remained one of central India’s most historically contested religious sites. Hindus regard it as an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and a renowned Sanskrit learning centre. Historical accounts and local traditions state that the structure suffered damage during medieval Islamic invasions, following which parts of the complex were altered and came to be identified by Muslims as the Kamal Maula Mosque.

The dispute over the site’s religious character continued for decades in modern India, eventually leading to prolonged legal proceedings and archaeological examinations. With the Madhya Pradesh High Court recognising the site as a Saraswati temple and the ASI moving to implement the order, many supporters of the Hindu side view the judgment as a historic resolution to a centuries-old dispute. However, with the Muslim side preparing to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court, the final legal chapter in the Bhojshala case is yet to unfold. The outcome of the proceedings before the apex court could ultimately determine the lasting constitutional and religious status of the disputed complex.

With both sides preparing for a likely Supreme Court battle, the Bhojshala dispute now appears set to enter a new and decisive phase in India’s legal and constitutional landscape.