Both puja and namaz will be held on the day of Basant Panchami in the Bhojshala complex of Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. The Supreme Court has decided that a limited number of devotees will go to the Bhojshala premises between 1 pm to 3 pm. They will be given a separate place for namaz. Activities related to Saraswati Puja will continue throughout the day. The court has appealed that all parties respect each other and cooperate with the administration.
Citing that religious activities related to Saraswati Puja were going on for the whole day on Basant Panchami i.e. Friday, 23 January, a demand was made to the Supreme Court to stop the prayers there on that day. During the hearing, the state government assured to maintain law and order. The Muslim side said that a limited number of Namazis will go there in the afternoon. Information about their numbers will be given to the administration in advance.
Reference to 2003 order
The petition by Hindu Front of Justice states that in 2003, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had allowed Muslims to offer namaz in the Bhojshala complex on Fridays. Under the same order, Hindus worship there on Tuesday and Basant Panchami. This time the day of Saraswati Puja is Friday. The ASI order does not make it clear what will happen when Basant Panchami falls on Friday? Basant Panchami is a very sacred festival for the followers of Sanatan Dharma, hence, namaz should be stopped there on that day.
Muslim side’s argument
Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain appeared for the petitioner before the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M Pancholi. Senior advocate Salman Khurshid appeared for Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society and Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj appeared for the Madhya Pradesh government. Khurshid told the court that since 2003, Basant Panchami has fallen on Friday thrice. With the help of the administration, Muslims offer namaz there between 1 pm and 3 pm.
cross-examination about time
Khurshid also said that the Namazis will leave from there after the stipulated time. After listening to Khurshid’s argument, the court said that Hindu religious activities would be allowed from 12 noon and then from 4 pm, but Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain said that puja-havan would be allowed from sunrise to sunset. Madhya Pradesh government’s lawyer Nataraj said that the administration will allow all activities to proceed uninterrupted.
Limited number of devotees will come
Nataraj said that those coming for Namaz will be given a separate space in the complex between 1 pm to 3 pm. Their entry and exit routes will also be kept separate. He requested that the court should ask the mosque side to inform the administration about the number of worshipers, so that passes can be issued to them. Khurshid agreed to this.
What is the matter?
The Hindu side claims that the Bhojshala complex is a temple of Maa Vagdevi (Saraswati). It was built by a king of the Parmar dynasty in the 11th century. The Muslim community sees this place as Kamal Maula Masjid. The case is currently pending in the Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court. On the orders of the High Court, a scientific survey of the complex was conducted in 2024. Its report has been submitted to the High Court.
Now the case will go to the High Court
In the hearing held on Thursday, the Supreme Court also disposed of the petition filed by the mosque side in 2024. The mosque side had challenged the survey of the Bhojshala premises. Then the Supreme Court had banned any action based on the survey. Now the Supreme Court has removed this ban. It has been said in the order that the Division Bench of the High Court should hear the case within 2 weeks. The survey report should be submitted to all parties. They should be given a chance to present their objections. After this the further hearing should begin.
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