PolityGS-IGS-II· 1 min read
Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Complex Dispute
Why in news?
The Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, overturning a previous ASI order allowing Muslim prayers.
Key points
- The court declared Bhojshala a temple of Goddess Saraswati.
- It allowed the Muslim community to seek separate land for a mosque.
- The court indicated evidence of a Sanskrit teaching centre.
- The 2003 ASI order permitting Friday prayers for Muslims was scrapped.
- The dispute involves claims from Hindu, Muslim, and Jain communities regarding the monument's religious nature.
Background & context
The Bhojshala complex is an ASI-protected monument. The Hindu community considers it a temple of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community refers to it as Kamal Maula Mosque. A Jain petitioner claims it's a medieval Jain temple and gurukul.
★ Prelims fact capsule
The ASI order allowing weekly worship for both communities was issued in 2003.
✎ Mains relevance
GS Paper 1: Art and culture, history. GS Paper 2: Judiciary, laws.