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๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ India /Culture & Society

MP High Court declares Bhojshala complex a temple; Hindu side to begin worship

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
  • The court directed the government to provide separate land for Muslims to construct a mosque and set aside parts of a 2003 ASI order that restricted Hindu worship.
  • The Hindu side stated its immediate focus would be on performing worship at the site and preparing for further legal proceedings.

The Indore High Court's decision to declare the Bhojshala complex a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati is a historic victory for the Hindu community, recognizing centuries of rightful claim over this sacred site. This verdict, delivered by justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi, not only validates the religious character of the complex as Bhojshala but also rectifies the injustices of past orders that had restricted Hindu worship.

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.

โ€” Vishnu Shankar JainThe Hindu side lawyer stated their immediate plans after the court's verdict.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain rightly emphasized that the immediate priority is to exercise the fundamental right to worship at the premises, in accordance with Article 25 of the Constitution and Section 16 of the ASI Act, 1958. This is not merely about worship; it is about reclaiming a part of our cultural and religious heritage that was unjustly curtailed.

The court's directive for the government to provide alternative land for a mosque is a pragmatic step, acknowledging the need for coexistence while prioritizing the restoration of Hindu rights at Bhojshala. This ruling, which partially overturns the ASI's 2003 order, is a significant step towards correcting historical wrongs.

The Indore High Court has delivered a historic verdict, partially setting aside the ASI's order dated April 7, 2003. Furthermore, the Court has granted the Hindu side the right to worship and has recognised the Bhojshala complex as belonging to Raja Bhoj.

โ€” Vishnu Shankar JainReacting to the ruling, the Hindu side lawyer described the order as a 'historic verdict'.

Furthermore, the court's consideration of the demand for the repatriation of the idol from a London museum is a beacon of hope. It signifies a broader recognition of the need to return our cultural artifacts and a commitment to addressing such long-standing issues. This verdict resonates deeply with the sentiments of millions who believe in the rightful place of our deities and heritage.

The religious character of disputed area of the Bhojshala Complex and Kamal Maula Mosque is held to be a Bhojshala with a temple of goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati).

โ€” Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High CourtThe court stated this in its judgment regarding the disputed site.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.