Bhojshala verdict: Cong MLA to move SC, BJP hails 'Sanatan win'
Synopsis
The Madhya Pradesh High Court's declaration of Bhojshala as a Saraswati temple — and its scrapping of the 2003 ASI order permitting namaz — has reignited one of central India's most contested heritage disputes. With Congress heading to the Supreme Court and BJP calling it a civilisational victory, the legal battle is far from over.
Key Takeaways
The Madhya Pradesh High Court's Indore bench declared the Bhojshala complex in Dhar a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati on 15 May 2025 .
The court set aside the ASI's 2003 order that had denied Hindus worship rights while permitting Muslims to offer namaz at the site.
Congress MLA Arif Masood called the verdict 'one-sided', alleging the ASI survey excluded Muslim petitioners, and announced a Supreme Court challenge.
MP BJP President Hemant Khandelwal , former CM Uma Bharti , and MLA Rameshwar Sharma hailed the ruling as a 'historic win for Sanatan.' The court directed that the Muslim community may seek alternative land from the state government in Dhar district for a mosque.
Hindu petitioner Ashish Goyal said the community had fought for the site's 'liberation' for 700 years .
The Madhya Pradesh High Court's ruling on the Bhojshala complex in Dhar on Friday, 15 May has drawn sharply divided reactions, with Congress MLA Arif Masood declaring the judgment 'one-sided' and announcing a challenge in the Supreme Court, while Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders across the state celebrated it as a historic victory for Sanatan Dharma.
What the High Court Ruled
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monument in Dhar district a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The court also set aside the ASI's 2003 order that had denied Hindus the right to worship at the site while granting Muslims the right to offer namaz. The court additionally held that the Muslim community may approach the state government for allotment of separate land in the district for construction of a mosque.
Congress MLA's Objections
Arif Masood contended that the court's judgment rested entirely on the ASI's survey report and failed to account for other material facts and objections raised by the Muslim side during proceedings. He alleged the ASI report itself was flawed, arguing that petitioners had informed the court during the survey process that they were not fully involved or consulted.
'Today's verdict is based on the report submitted by the Archaeological Survey of India. We will now study this verdict; we do not agree with this decision, and we intend to challenge it in the Supreme Court,' Masood said while speaking to reporters in Bhopal.
Masood also noted the historical complexity of the site, pointing out that the Kamal Maula Mosque at the location is centuries old and predates India's independence. He traced the legal journey of the dispute — from lower courts to the High Court, then to the Supreme Court, and back to Madhya Pradesh — before the ASI survey order was issued. He appealed to the state government not to allow anyone to take over the premises at this stage, and urged the public to maintain peace and tranquillity.
BJP Hails the Verdict
Madhya Pradesh BJP President Hemant Khandelwal welcomed the ruling, stating: 'The Bhojshala of Dhar — our identity, a center of faith, and the pride of our culture. Glory be to the eternal Sanatan Dharma.' Former Chief Minister Uma Bharti and MLA Rameshwar Sharma also described the judgment as a 'historic win for Sanatan.'
Hindu Petitioners React
Hindu side petitioner Ashish Goyal said the community had been 'struggling for 700 years for the liberation of Maa Saraswati Temple Bhojshala and the restoration of its glory.' He noted that while entry restrictions were eased after a 2003 movement, the site had not been fully handed over to the Hindu side until now.
What Happens Next
With Masood confirming a Supreme Court challenge, the Bhojshala dispute is set to move into a new legal phase. The state government's response to the court's direction on alternative land allotment for a mosque, and the question of site control in the interim, will be closely watched. This ruling adds to a series of ASI-related heritage-site verdicts that have reshaped the legal and political landscape around contested religious monuments in India.
Point of View
And the losing side's credibility challenge to that survey is left for a higher court to resolve. The Congress MLA's specific objection — that Muslim petitioners were not fully involved in the survey process — is a procedural argument that courts have heard before in similar disputes, and its strength will depend on the record. What is notable here is the court's direction on alternative land allotment, a pragmatic gesture that signals judicial awareness of community impact, even as the core verdict is unambiguous. Whether the Supreme Court intervenes on a stay, and how quickly, will determine whether this remains a legal dispute or escalates into a ground-level flashpoint.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Madhya Pradesh High Court rule on Bhojshala?
The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the Bhojshala complex in Dhar district a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati on 15 May 2025. It also set aside a 2003 ASI order that had denied Hindus worship rights and permitted Muslims to offer namaz at the site.
Why is Congress MLA Arif Masood challenging the verdict?
Masood called the judgment 'one-sided', arguing it relied solely on the ASI's survey report without adequately considering objections raised by the Muslim side. He alleged the ASI survey process did not fully involve all petitioners, making the report's findings flawed.
What happens to the Kamal Maula Mosque under this ruling?
The court's ruling effectively overturns the arrangement under which Muslims could offer namaz at the site. However, the court directed that the Muslim community may approach the Madhya Pradesh state government for allotment of separate land in Dhar district to construct a mosque.
How did BJP respond to the Bhojshala verdict?
BJP leaders across Madhya Pradesh celebrated the ruling. State BJP President Hemant Khandelwal, former Chief Minister Uma Bharti, and MLA Rameshwar Sharma all described it as a 'historic win for Sanatan Dharma.'
What is the history of the Bhojshala dispute?
The Bhojshala complex in Dhar has been contested for centuries, with Hindus claiming it as the Maa Saraswati Temple and Muslims citing the historic Kamal Maula Mosque on the premises. The dispute travelled through lower courts, the High Court, and the Supreme Court before being referred back to Madhya Pradesh, leading to the ASI survey and Friday's ruling.
