Temple or Mosque? Madhya Pradesh High Court judge to visit disputed Bhojshala complex today

Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla of the Madhya Pradesh High Court is set to physically inspect the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex today in Dhar district..A Bench of Justice Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi is hearing a batch of petitions seeking to reclaim the Bhojshala complex for Hindus and to prohibit Muslims from offering namaaz in its premises.On March 16, the Court had said that it would visit the site to understand its layout. "The Court propose to visit the site before the next date of hearing," it said in the order.The inspection is taking place without the presence of any parties to the dispute. Justice Shukla is scheduled to travel from Indore by around noon and expected to reach Dhar in an hour. The hearings in the matter will commence from April 2. .In 2024, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) in a report filed before the High Court said that its investigation and study at the Bhojshala complex revealed that the "existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples.The ASI submitted the report pursuant to an order of the High Court to conduct a survey at the site in Dhar District which houses the Bhojshala Temple as well as the Kamal Maula Mosque. "From art and architecture of decorated pillars and pilasters, it can be said that they were part of earlier temples and were reused while making colonnades of the mosque over the high platform of the basalt. A pillar decorated with niches in all the four directions depict mutilated images of deities. Another base of a pillar also depicts a deity image in a niche. Standing images on two pilasters have been chopped off and are beyond recognition," the report said.The Supreme Court had in May 2024 refused to stay the survey but said that the outcome of the report cannot be acted till further orders. In January this year, the top court ordered a status quo at the site till adjudication of the dispute..Supreme Court issues directions for conduct of Friday namaz, Basant Panchami Puja at Bhojshala-Kamal Maula.On March 16, the High Court said the parties may submit their respective objections/opinion/suggestions or recommendations in respect of the ASI report before the next date of hearing."Keeping in view the directions contained in para 9(iii) & 9(iv) of the order dated 22.01.2026 passed by the Apex Court in the case of Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society Dhar, M.P. Vs. Hindu Front For Justice (Regd. Trust No.976) & others, (Civil Appeal No.466/2026, arising out of SLP (C) No.7023/2024), parties are directed to argue the matter finally on the next date of hearing," it directed.