Madhya Pradesh High Court rules Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque Complex in Dhar is a temple, allows return of Goddess Saraswati idol from London.
Image of Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque. (Source: Wikipedia)
In a significant verdict in the long-running Bhojshala Complex dispute, the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared that the disputed Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque Complex in Dhar is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, giving the ruling in favour of the Hindu petitioners.
The high court further said that the Centre can consider petitions requesting to bring the idol of Goddess Saraswati from the London museum.
Here are the top quotes from the historic Bhojshala verdict.
‘Centre Of Sanskrit Learning Associated With Raja Bhoj’
The court observed that there was a “constitutional duty to provide basic amenities to pilgrims” along with ensuring “preservation of purity and preservation of the character of the deity”.
The bench noted that the continuity of Hindu worship at the site “has never been extinguished” and recorded findings that historical literature establishes the disputed area as Bhojshala, a centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty.
Also Read: Bhojshala Verdict: MP High Court Declares Disputed Site As Saraswati Temple, Stops Namaz In Complex
“We have noted continuity of Hindu worship at the site here has never been extinguished. We record findings that historical literature places establish the character of the dispute area was bhojshala as centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of parmar dynasty,” the court said.
‘Religious Character Is Temple Of Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati’
The court further held that the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex is a protected monument and that “the religious character of the area is held to be Bhojshala with temple of Goddess Vagdevi Saraswati”.
‘Hindus To Worship In Bhojshala, No Namaz’
In a major direction, the bench quashed portions of the 2003 order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India that restricted Hindu worship rights within the complex while allowing the Muslim community to offer namaz.
“The impugned order of 2003 by ASI, to the extent that it restricts the rights of Hindu to worship within the complex and allows Muslim community to offer namaz is quashed,” the court said.
‘ASI Will Continue Overall Administration Of Property’
The High Court also directed the Centre and the ASI to take a decision regarding the administration and management of the Bhojshala temple and Sanskrit learning activities at the Dhar complex, while clarifying that the ASI would continue to exercise full supervisory control over preservation and conservation of the monument.
Also Read: Bhojshala Verdict: Temple Claims, Mosque History And The Courtroom Fight | All You Need To Know
“The government of India and ASI will take a decision for the purpose, administration and management of the Bhojshala temple and Sanskrit learning within the property in question situated at Dhar. ASI will continue overall administration of property. ASI shall have full supervisory control over the preservation and conservation,” the bench stated.
‘Can Bring Back Goddess Saraswati Idol’
On the demand for bringing back the idol of Goddess Saraswati from a London museum, the bench observed that the petitioners had already submitted several representations before the government and said the Centre “may consider the representations to bring back the idol”.
“Further relief claim by the petitioner to bring the idol of goddess Saraswati from the London Museum to establish the same within the Bhojshala complex, the petitioners have made a number of representations before the Government, which may consider the representations to bring back the idol,” the bench stated.
Madhya Pradesh, India, India
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