The Madhya Pradesh High Court has delivered an important and historic judgment on the controversial Bhojshala temple and Kamal Mall mosque premises in Dhar district. High Court judgmentrSwami Vijay Kumar Shukla and BicharA division bench of Swami Alok Avasthi recognized the banquet hall as a temple of Goddess Saraswati. According to the court’s observations, there is ample historical evidence of a Sanskrit education center and a temple of Goddess Saraswati at the site. The court also held that the worship of Hindus at this place was not completely stopped.
Citing historical documents and literature, the court noted that Bhojshala was an ancient center of Sanskrit learning associated with King Bhoja of the Parma dynasty. The Hindu side has long claimed that it was originally a temple of Goddess Saraswati built by King Bhoja. Muslims claim that the site has been used as the Kamal Maul Mosque for centuries. However, the court advised the Muslim community to apply to the state government for alternative land to build a mosque in Dhar district. Conservation and maintenance of the entire monument has been entrusted to the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conducted a scientific survey of the site in March 2024 as directed by the High Court. An extensive 2,000-page report was submitted to the court after nearly 98 days of investigation. That report noted that the present structure was preceded by a grand architecture of the Amal of Parma kings and that various parts of the temple were reused during the construction of the mosque. The Hindu side claimed that coins, sculptures and inscriptions found in the survey proved that it was a temple, but the Muslim side called the report biased.
The court also said the government may consider a plea to return the idol of Goddess Saraswati to a museum in London. Lawyer Vishnu Sarkar described Jain Roy as historic and expressed satisfaction. This judgment is believed to have settled the long-standing religious and historical dispute in Dhar district. The entire issue is now being widely discussed in the area.