Indore, May 4 The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday directed a Muslim litigant to submit written objections within three days on videography related to the ASI's scientific survey of the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex.
The Indore bench of the HC also directed that the litigant be provided the facility to view the videography after he cited technical difficulties in accessing it.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side identifies the monument as Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex remains protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Advocate Tausif Warsi, appearing for Dhar-based Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society, cited technical difficulties before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi, stating he could not access the videography conducted during the ASI survey.
An Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) counsel stated the videography was uploaded to Google Drive as per court directions, and access had already been granted to the society's lawyer.
After hearing both sides, the division bench directed that Warsi be provided the facility to view the videography and asked the High Court's IT section to make necessary arrangements on Monday itself.
The court also directed that additional access be shared with senior advocate Salman Khurshid, representing the society, through his email at the earliest.
The bench directed the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society to submit its written objections on the videography by May 7.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Kumar Jain presented arguments on the history of ASI's protection of the disputed Dhar complex.
He stated the site has remained a protected monument under ASI's regulatory control since 1904.
A petitioner from the Muslim side claimed in the High Court that the erstwhile Dhar princely state's court had declared the 11th-century monument a mosque in 1935.
Countering the claim, Jain stated the declaration had been nullified due to provisions governing ASI-protected monuments and held no legal validity. Jain's arguments will continue on May 5.
The High Court has been conducting regular hearings since April 6 on four petitions and one writ appeal concerning the religious nature of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex.
