Indore, Apr 6 The disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district is essentially a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, and this historical monument cannot be a mosque, the Hindu side told the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday.
The Hindu petitioners submitted before the HC's Indore bench that historical records and the report of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)'s scientific survey of the disputed complex, carried out on the court's 2024 order, clearly support its claim.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while the Muslim side claims the 11th-century monument, protected by the ASI, is the Kamal Maula Mosque.
The HC's Indore bench began regular hearings on Monday on four petitions and one writ appeal filed over the dispute regarding the religious nature of the complex. A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi is hearing arguments from all parties in a sequential manner.
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, representing the Hindu Front for Justice, one of the petitioners, told the HC that historical records, the ASI's scientific survey report, and the material presented with the petition prove the disputed structure was originally a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
He claimed the complex contained statues of Hindu deities, inscriptions containing Sanskrit verses, a pavilion, and a 'havan kund' (sacred fire pit), arguing the monument could not be a mosque.
Jain stated that the monument was part of a Hindu structure built by King Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty of Dhar in 1034 AD.
He cited various attacks by Muslim invaders on Dhar and said despite attempts to erase Hindu symbols from the Bhojshala complex over the years, they still exist.
Jain insisted that, as per legal provisions, the fundamental religious character of any ASI-protected monument cannot be changed, and therefore, only Hindus should be granted the right to worship in the Bhojshala complex.
During the nearly two-hour hearing, a lawyer representing the Muslim side requested that copies of all documents submitted in support of the Hindu community's petition be provided to them.
The HC, while granting this request, orally remarked that after the arguments are completed, all parties involved in the matter may present their objections, which the court will consider.
The division bench said it will continue hearing the case on Tuesday.
The ASI, following the High Court's order, conducted a scientific survey of the disputed complex two years ago and submitted a detailed report.
The more than 2,000-page report indicates that a massive structure dating back to the reign of the Parmar kings of Dhar pre-existed the mosque, and that the current disputed structure was built using repurposed temple components.
It may be noted that the Parmars ruled over a vast territory around Malwa in west-central India for 400 years from the 9th century.
The Muslim side has questioned the ASI's survey and rejected the Hindu claim that the Bhojshala complex was originally a temple.
The Muslim side alleges that the ASI ignored its previous objections and included "objects placed through the back door" in the disputed complex in the survey.
As per an ASI order of April 7, 2003, Hindus are allowed to worship at the complex every Tuesday, while Muslims are permitted to offer namaz on Fridays.
