Bhojshala complex prayer space dispute

Notes

• The Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, is a site of a long-standing dispute between Hindu and Muslim communities.
• The Hindu community claims the site is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati; the Muslim community identifies it as an 11th-century mosque.
• On May 15, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ruled the site is a temple and barred Friday namaz, quashing a previous ASI order that permitted prayers.
• The Supreme Court, in an interim measure, has refrained from restoring status quo ante to avoid social tension.
• The Supreme Court directed the Madhya Pradesh government to identify an alternative open space near the site for Friday prayers (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.) until the final adjudication.
• The Supreme Court prohibited the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from making structural alterations to the site without prior judicial permission.
• Appellants invoked the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, arguing it was intended to prevent disputes over the religious identity of ancient sites.
• The Supreme Court has issued formal notices to the State of Madhya Pradesh and the Union government.

Part of a longer story

This is day 2 of 5 in Bhojshala complex dispute, which has been running since 14 July 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

• Supreme Court petitions on Bhojshala complex dispute Before
• Bhojshala Mosque namaz arrangement After
• The whole story 5 entries