Supreme Court Refuses to Stop ASI Survey of Dhar Bhojshala

The Supreme Court has refused to stay the survey of ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) at Bhojshala and Kamal Maula Masjid in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. The Supreme Court issued notice on a petition against the Madhya Pradesh High Court order directing the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey at the disputed site of Bhojshala and Kamal Maula Masjid.
The Supreme Court issued notice on a petition against the Madhya Pradesh High Court order directing the Archaeological Survey of India to conduct a survey at the disputed site “Bhojshala and Kamal Maula Masjid”. The court has sent notice to all the parties.

The Supreme Court, in an interim direction today (April 1), said that no action should be taken without its permission based on the results of the survey. The Supreme Court made it clear that no physical excavation should be done at the disputed sites, which would change its appearance.

Bhojshala Controversy

The latest controversy over the Bhojshala case started in 1995 when Hindus sought permission to worship here. After which the administration allowed Hindus to worship and Muslims were also allowed to offer Namaz on Friday, however in 1997 the controversy escalated once again. After which on May 12, 1997, entry of common citizens was banned here. Hindus were allowed to worship only on Vasant Panchami and Muslims were allowed to offer namaz between 1 and 3 pm on Friday. After this, in the year 2003, permission was again given for regular puja and Bhojshala was opened for tourists also.
Later, under the banner of Hindu Front for Justice, the Hindu side filed a petition in the court demanding full rights of Hindus to worship here. During this time, Advocates Harishankar Jain and Vishnushankar Jain argued the case. While hearing the petition, the court also sought answers from the state government, central government and ASI. During the hearing, ASI said that the survey of Bhojshala was done in the year 1902-03 and now there is no need for doing it again. The Muslim side also denied the need for the survey and said that their community had got the right to offer Namaz on the basis of the same survey. Despite all this, the Hindu side remained adamant on its demand. After which, on Monday i.e. March 11, the court had issued an order for a survey in the Bhojshala of Dhar on the lines of Gyanvapi.