The Supreme Court has allowed members of both the Hindu and Muslim communities to offer prayers at the Bhojshala Temple Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh, a site that has remained at the centre of a long standing dispute. The court also fixed specific time slots for prayers to ensure order and prevent any disturbance to public peace.
According to the court’s order, Hindus have been permitted to perform prayers at the site from sunrise to sunset. Muslim prayers, meanwhile, have been allowed between 1 pm and 3 pm on the occasion of Basant Panchami. The directions were issued with the objective of maintaining communal harmony and balancing the religious rights of both communities.
The Bhojshala complex, located in Dhar district, is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. Hindus believe the site to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while Muslims regard it as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The dispute over religious rights at the monument has been pending before courts for several years.
The Supreme Court’s order comes amid heightened sensitivity surrounding religious sites and aims to prevent escalation of tensions. The bench emphasised that the arrangement would be subject to strict supervision by local authorities to ensure that prayers are conducted peacefully and within the allotted time frames.
The court also made it clear that the interim arrangement would not affect the reminder list of legal claims or the final adjudication of the dispute. It stressed that the permission granted was only to manage religious practices on a specific occasion and should not be interpreted as a ruling on ownership or historical claims.
State authorities have been directed to ensure adequate security arrangements during the prayer timings. Police and administrative officials will be responsible for maintaining law and order and ensuring compliance with the Supreme Court’s instructions.
Legal experts noted that the court’s approach reflects its attempt to strike a balance between competing religious claims while preventing unrest. Similar arrangements have been ordered in the past in cases involving disputed religious sites to allow temporary access without prejudicing the outcome of ongoing cases.
Local leaders from both communities have appealed for calm and cooperation, urging devotees to respect the court’s directions. They have also emphasised the importance of preserving peace and harmony in the region.
The Bhojshala dispute remains one of the many sensitive religious matters pending judicial resolution in India. The Supreme Court’s intervention highlights the judiciary’s role in managing such disputes while safeguarding constitutional rights and public order.
