Hindus consider Bhojshala, an ASI-protected 11th century monument, to be a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) while the Muslim community calls it ‘Kamal Maula Mosque’.
As per an arrangement made by the ASI on April 7, 2003, Hindus perform puja in the Bhojshala premises on Tuesdays, while Muslims offer namaz in the complex on Fridays.
“This court has drawn only one conclusion that constitutional as well as statutory obligations of the ASI to have a scientific survey, study convened at the earliest of Bhojshala Temple and Kamal Maula Mosque,” observed a division bench of the HC at Indore, comprising Justices SA Dharmadhikari and Devnarayan Mishra.
The bench sought a comprehensive report of the survey to be prepared by a five-member expert committee of the ASI, which functions under the Union culture ministry, within six weeks.
“A proper documented comprehensively drafted report prepared by an expert committee of not less than five senior-most officers of ASI headed by the director general/additional director general of the ASI himself be submitted before this court within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order,” the court said in its 30-page order.The HC direction came while hearing an application filed by an outfit called Hindu Front for Justice.Dhar’s Shahar Qazi (Muslim community’s local religious head) Waqar Sadiq said they will move the Supreme Court against the HC ruling.
