Why in News?
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on 14 May, 2026 delivered a landmark verdict declaring the long-disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district as a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati).
Core Verdict & Structural Identity
- Declared a Temple: The court ruled that the structure’s original and definitive character is Bhojshala, an ancient temple of Goddess Saraswati built by the Parmar King Raja Bhoj in 1034 A.D..
- Sanskrit Centre of Learning: Literary and historical evidence conclusively verified that the complex functioned prominently as an ancient centre for Sanskrit education.
- Worship Rights: Complete and unrestricted rights to perform religious rituals have been granted to the Hindu side.
Findings of the ASI Survey Report
- Repurposed Temple Material: The ASI scientific survey proved that the medieval mosque walls (including the mihrab) were built by damaging and reusing components of a pre-existing temple structure.
- Recovery of Artifacts: The excavation uncovered 97 murtis (idols), including pillars containing carvings of Hindu deities like Shiva, Hanuman, Ganesha, and Brahma, along with more than 150 Sanskrit inscriptions.
- No Valid Waqf Title: The judgment noted that the transformation into a mosque lacked a legal or valid Waqf dedication.
Dismissal of Alternative Claims
- Muslim Petitions Rejected: The legal claims submitted by the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society seeking mosque status were comprehensively dismissed.
- Jain Petition Rejected: A recent petition from the Jain community claiming the monument was originally a medieval Jain temple was also discarded. The court observed that historically, Hindu and Jain traditions coexisted closely, which explains the mixed presence of certain artifacts.
Provisions for the Muslim Community
- Alternate Land Suggestion: Drawing on legal principles similar to the Ayodhya Ram Janmabhoomi case, the court suggested that the Muslim representatives can approach the MP State Government to seek alternative land in the Dhar district to build a mosque.
Administration and the London Idol
- ASI Custody: The Archaeological Survey of India will retain absolute supervisory and preservation control over the monument under the Ancient Monuments Act.
- Return of Vagdevi Idol: The High Court directed the Central Government to consider legal procedures to bring back the original Goddess Vagdevi idol, which is currently housed in a UK museum in London, for potential reinstatement at the site.
Political and Legal Aftermath
- Security Clampdown: The Dhar administration immediately reinforced heavy security and deployed restrictions under Section 163 of the BNSS to prevent communal fallout.
- Supreme Court Challenge: Representatives from the Muslim community rejected the land allocation recommendation and announced plans to challenge the High Court's ruling in the Supreme Court of India.
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