The Indian National Congress on Tuesday, 14 July called for a 'comprehensive judgement' from the Supreme Court in the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex case in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, warning that partial or interim rulings risk inflaming tensions between Hindu and Muslim communities. The remarks came hours after the apex court declined to stay the Madhya Pradesh High Court's ruling declaring the complex a Hindu temple, while simultaneously directing the state to provide a separate open space near the monument for Muslim worshippers to offer namaz on Fridays between 1 pm and 3 pm as an ad-hoc arrangement.

What the Supreme Court Directed

A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant refused to stay the High Court's judgment but issued an interim accommodation order, carving out a temporary Friday prayer window for the Muslim community at a space near the protected monument. The bench also ordered that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) may not carry out any structural alterations to the site without prior permission from the Supreme Court, effectively freezing the monument's physical status quo. Chief Justice Kant appealed for restraint from both sides, stating that 'both sides must have patience' and assured that the matter would be listed for final hearing at the earliest opportunity.

Congress Leaders Raise Concerns

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said he found the interim arrangement contradictory. 'I do not understand this. If a separate place is being given, it means the Supreme Court also believes the Muslim side has a claim. The matter should be decided accordingly. In my opinion, the Supreme Court should avoid such interim arrangements and examine the entire issue,' he said. Dikshit further described the matter as 'sensitive', urging the court to deliver a ruling that settles the dispute in its entirety. 'Whatever judgment it has to deliver should be comprehensive. Doing something partially and leaving the rest unresolved may unnecessarily create circumstances for tensions to increase,' he added.

BJP Accused of Diverting Attention

Congress leader Awaaz Hafeez accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of using the controversy to distract from governance failures. 'They want to push people into Hindu-Muslim debates. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that conflicts between Hindus and Muslims don't take place in Madhya Pradesh,' he said. Congress leader Mukesh Nayak echoed that sentiment, arguing that the BJP was keeping public attention anchored to communal controversies at the expense of issues such as employment, poverty, infrastructure, schools, and hospitals. 'Once these issues come to an end and the government can frame narratives on issues that affect human lives,' Nayak said.

Background and What Comes Next

The Bhojshala complex in Dhar has long been a flashpoint — Hindus regard it as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while Muslims consider the attached Kamal Maula Mosque a place of active worship. The site is under ASI protection, and an existing arrangement had permitted Hindu prayers on Tuesdays and Muslim prayers on Fridays. The High Court's ruling tipped that balance decisively toward the Hindu claim, prompting the legal challenge now before the Supreme Court. The apex court's assurance of an early final hearing suggests the long-running dispute could reach a definitive conclusion sooner than anticipated — though the political temperature around the case is likely to remain elevated in the interim.