SC suggests temporary prayer space for Muslims near Bhojshala complex
The Supreme Court has asked the Madhya Pradesh government to find a temporary open space for Friday prayers near the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex while the dispute remains pending.
- The Supreme Court declined to restore the earlier status quo at the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex and instead suggested an interim prayer arrangement nearby.
- The Madhya Pradesh High Court had held that the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and barred Friday prayers there.
- The Supreme Court restrained the Archaeological Survey of India from making structural changes without its permission.
- The Muslim petitioners argued that the Places of Worship Act, 1991 should prevent any change in the religious character of the site.
What happened
The Supreme Court declined to restore the earlier status quo at the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex after the Madhya Pradesh High Court held that the site is a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and barred Friday prayers there. Instead of immediate restoration, the Bench asked the Madhya Pradesh government to identify an open space near the disputed site where Muslims could offer Friday namaz between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. as an interim measure.
The court also restrained the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) from making structural changes without its permission and issued notices to the State and the Union government.
UPSC can frame the issue around the balance between religious freedom, preservation of the religious character of places of worship, judicial restraint, and interim arrangements that prevent escalation while litigation continues.
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