The Madhya Pradesh High Court has delivered a historic judgment regarding the disputed Bhojshala complex in the Dhar district, declaring the structure a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The court completely revoked the 2003 order issued by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) that allowed Muslims to offer Friday prayers (Namaz) at the site. The bench ruled that the right to perform religious rituals and worship within the Bhojshala premises now belongs exclusively to the Hindu community.
In its detailed ruling, the court directed the state government to provide an alternative location within the district for the Muslim community to offer Namaz. The judges clarified that the monument was originally established as a center for Sanskrit learning by Raja Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty. Furthermore, the court ordered the government to initiate official efforts to bring back the ancient idol of Goddess Saraswati, which is currently housed in the British Museum in London. Historical records indicate that Raja Bhoj consecrated this famous idol between 1010 and 1055 AD.
The verdict was heavily influenced by a comprehensive 98-day scientific survey conducted by the ASI under previous court orders. The 2,000-page ASI report revealed that the current structure was built using components from a pre-existing temple. The court agreed with the Hindu side’s arguments, noting that the coins, sculptures, and inscriptions discovered during the survey conclusively prove the site’s identity as a Hindu temple. This landmark decision marks a definitive turn in the long-standing legal and religious dispute over the Bhojshala complex.
