Supreme Court allows Hindus and Muslims to worship at the disputed Bhojshala in MP

January 22, 2026

New Delhi/Dhar: The Supreme Court on Friday allowed Hindus to worship from sunrise to sunset and Muslims to offer namaz from 1 pm to 3 pm at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar district. This order will be effective on the occasion of Basant Panchami.

The Supreme Court had already directed the district administration to prepare a list of Muslims coming to offer namaz and strictly maintain law and order. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi called on both communities to maintain cooperation and mutual respect.

Bhojshala-Kamal Maula: The Long-Standing Controversy

Hindus consider it a temple of Goddess Saraswati (Saraswati Mata), while the Muslim community knows it as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The roots of this dispute go back to the 1990s.

In 1997, the then Congress government restricted entry for civilians, while Muslims were only allowed to offer prayers inside the dome. Later, on April 7, 2003, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made a provision that Hindus could worship on Tuesdays and Muslims could offer prayers on Fridays.

The complex was first declared protected in 1909 and a monument of national importance in 1951. It is currently protected under the Archaeological and Historical Monuments Act, 1958.

ASI Survey Finds Temple Ruins

In May 2022, the Hindu Front for Justice filed a petition challenging the 2003 order and sought permission for daily worship. The Indore High Court directed the ASI to conduct a scientific survey, which took place from March 22 to June 30, 2022.

The 150-page ASI report found that the existing mosque structure was built on the foundation of an 11th-century temple, reusing stone, marble, and other materials from the old temple. The survey uncovered 94 inscriptions, 106 pillars, 82 pilasters, 31 ancient coins, and 150 inscriptions**, including statues of Ganesha, Brahma, Narasimha, and Bhairava.

According to the report, these archaeological findings indicate that the mosque structure was built by modifying an existing temple into a mosque, which supports the Hindu belief that the site was originally dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.