The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued its verdict on the Dhar Bhoshala and Kamal Maula Mosque issue. The court has acknowledged the construction as a temple dedicated to the Goddess Vagdevi or Sarawati based on the ASI report.
Security was tightened around the temple following the verdict.
The bench comprising Justice Vijay Kuar Shukla and Alok Awasthi said that the “religious nature of the structure is that of a temple and Mulism can apply for an alternative land for the mosque.”
“We have noted the continuity of Hindu worship at the site through regulated worship over time, which has never been extinguished. We record findings that historical literature places establish the character of the dispute area was Bhojshala as the centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of parmar dynasty,” the bench said.
The bench also said that the Government of India may consider bringing back the idol of the goddess from the British Museum in London.
The Muslim side has been given the freedom to approach the government for separate land in Dhar district for namaz. The Muslim side has also said that they will challenge the High Court ruling in court.
The High court quashed a 2003 order of the Archaeological Survey of India which restricted the rights of Hindu’s to worship at the complex, but permitted the muslim community to offer prayers.
According to an arrangement in 2003, Hindus performed puja at the temple every Tuesday while muslims were permitted to offer prayers on Fridays.
The Bhojshala in Dhar is considered by Hindu’s to be a Saraswati temple,built by the scholar king Raja Bhoj. Meanwhile, the Muslim community claims that the structure was the Kamal Maula Mosque.
Meanwhile, a Jain petitioner had disputed both claims, saying that the structure was a medieval Jain temple and a gurukul.
The high court states that archaeology is a science and that the could safely rely on conclusions drawn from scientific studies.
It said that it considered all available historical material from all parties.