MP High Court orders 'scientific survey' of disputed monument Bhojshala in Dhar within 6 weeks

The Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Monday while hearing the petition directed to conduct a survey of Dhar Bhojshala on the lines of Gyanvapi in Kashi. After hearing the issue on Monday, the court directed the ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) to constitute a team of five experts to conduct a survey of the site and submit its report in six weeks. The petition was filed by Hindu Front for Justice on 1st May 2022 in the Indore bench of the MP High Court.

The HC directed to conduct a scientific survey using the GPR-GPS method. A GPR i.e., Ground Penetrating Radar is the technology to ascertain factual conditions of different levels beneath the ground. It uses radar to measure different levels, lines and structures of invisible i.e. hidden objects. Besides, the survey will be conducted with the help of GPS (global positioning system). Photography and videography of the entire survey process will be done, the court said.

Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, counsel for the Hindu sides, reportedly informed that a survey will be conducted in the presence of both parties. Following which the original nature of Bhojshala will be revealed and known to all, he added. The matter will now be heard on 29th April. The survey report will have to be presented in the court.

The petitioner Hindu Front for Justice had filed a writ petition in the Indore bench of HC on 1st May 2022. It said that every Tuesday Hindus sanctify the Bhojshala by performing Yagna and on Friday, Muslims defile the Yagnakund in the name of Namaz, it (this practice) should be stopped. Hindu front demanded complete possession of Bhojshala by handing it over to Hindus. If necessary, photography, videography of the entire excavation process of Bhojshala should be done. The court has accepted the demand for a survey based on these points.

According to the district administration’s website, the Bhojshala was built by Raja Bhoj. It was the University in which the statue of Vagdevi was installed. The erstwhile Muslim ruler converted it into a mosque. Its remains can be seen in the famous Maulana Kamaluddin Mosque located in the campus of Bhojshala while the statue of of the goddess (Vagdevi) was ferried to London and kept in the museum there. The Hindu side is allowed to offer Prayers on Tuesday in Bhojshala. On Friday, the Muslim side is given entry between 1 and 3 pm to offer Namaz prayers there. The entry is free but on other days there is a ticket of ₹ 1. Apart from this, the Hindu side is allowed to perform puja and havan throughout the day for Saraswati puja on Vasant Panchami.

In 2006, 2012 and 2016 when Vasant Panchami descended on Friday, there was skirmish between the 2 warring groups. However local administration has to deal carefully with the situation by separately allowing both the parties/groups to perform religious discourses (puja and Namaz) on Panchami occurring on Friday. A similar situation is likely to happen in 2026 again.

According to estimates, in 1514 Mahmud Shah Khilji II attacked and tried to convert Bhojshala into a mosque. It was Khilji who built a tomb outside Bhojshala in the memory of Kamal Maulana 204 years after his death while Kamal Maulana died in Ahmedabad in 1310.

The Hindu side claims that the site is the temple of Saraswati Devi. Centuries ago, Muslims violated its sanctity and built the tomb of Maulana Kamaluddin there. Even today scriptures of gods, goddesses and verses in Sanskrit are dotted in Bhojshala. The statue of Vagdevi was taken away by Britishers to London and is being displayed in a museum there.

The petition said that Bhojshala is a place of worship for Hindus. But the Muslims in the pretext of Namaz only indulge in defiling the remains inside Bhojshala hall. According to information seven PILs (public interest litigation) have been filed in the Bhojshala case. The main petition is from the Hindu Front for Justice. It demands that Muslims be immediately stopped from offering Namaz in the Bhojshala and Hindus should be given the right to regular worship.