In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Thursday permitted both Hindu and Muslim devotees to offer prayers and namaz at the disputed Bhojshala–Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district on Basant Panchami, to be observed on Friday.
Under the court’s order, Hindus will be allowed to worship from sunrise to sunset, while Muslims may offer namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm on the same day.
Both Hindu and Muslim groups had sought permission to conduct religious activities at the Bhojshala complex on January 23, which falls on a Friday and coincides with Saraswati Puja celebrations marking Basant Panchami.
While pronouncing the order, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi urged both communities to maintain mutual respect and cooperate with the state and district administration to ensure law and order.
"A fair suggestion was given that in the afternoon, for namaz within 1 pm and 3 pm, an exclusive and separate area within the same compound, including separate ingress and egress within the same compound, shall be made available so that Namaz can be performed," the court said.
"Similarly, a separate space shall be made available to the Hindu community to hold traditional ceremonies on the occasion of Basant Panchami," it added.
During the hearing, senior Advocate Salman Khurshid, appearing for the mosque committee, submitted that the juma namaz happens between 1pm and 3 pm, and after that, the members of the Muslim community will vacate the premises.
The Bhojshala complex is an 11th-century monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Hindus believe it to be a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community regards it as the Kamal Maula Mosque.
Under an arrangement put in place in 2003, Hindus are permitted to perform puja at the site on Tuesdays, while Muslims are allowed to offer namaz on Fridays.
