The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on May 16 issued an official order granting the Hindu community unrestricted daily worship rights at the Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district, a day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the site a temple dedicated to Goddess Vajdevi (Saraswati).
The ASI order, a copy of which is available with HT, replaces all previous orders including the April 7, 2003 directive dividing access between Hindu and Muslim communities on separate days of the week.
The order, signed by Director General (Mont 1) AMV Subramaniam, is addressed to the Chief Secretary of Madhya Pradesh, Principal Secretary of Culture Department, District Collector of Dhar, Superintendent of Police of Dhar District and Superintending Archaeologist ASI Bhopal.
The latter is directed to take appropriate measures for the upkeep and upkeep of the memorial as directed by the Supreme Court. The site will remain a protected monument under the AMASR Act, 1958, with worship times determined by the supervising archaeologist in consultation with the district administration.
The Bhojshala complex is associated with King Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty, who is said to have constructed the site in 1034 AD. The site dedicated to Goddess Saraswati served as a major center for Sanskrit learning. The Hindu community has consistently maintained that it is the Saraswati Temple, while the Muslim side has identified it as Kamal Mula Mosque.
Read also:The first Saraswati idol installed in the Bhojshala sanctuary; Posters outside prohibit entry of non-Hindus
In 1909, the princely state of Dhar declared Bhojshala a protected monument, a status that later continued under the ASI. In 1952, the central government handed it over to the ASI.
In 1997, the Madhya Pradesh government allowed Muslim prayers at Bhoshala every Friday while restricting the entry of Hindus, allowing puja only on Vasant Panchami. On April 7, 2003, the ASI issued a new order dividing access – Hindus were allowed to perform pujas on Tuesdays, while Muslims were given exclusive rights to perform Friday prayers. This arrangement has been in place for more than two decades and has repeatedly sparked communal tensions, especially when Vasant Panchami coincided with Friday prayers.
On 11 March 2024, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the Indian intelligence agency to conduct a scientific survey of the complex. ASI began the survey on March 22, 2024 and submitted a more than 2,000-page report to the court on July 15, 2024 after a 98-day exercise. The report indicated that the current structure was built using parts of ancient temples. The Islamic side described the report as biased and challenged its findings in court.
On January 23, 2026, when the two occasions coincided, more than 8,000 security personnel were deployed at the complex.
On May 15, 2026, a division bench comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi declared the site to be a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi, recording that the continuity of Hindu worship at the site never ceased and that historical literature establishes Bhojshala as a center of Sanskrit learning associated with King Bhoj of the Paramara dynasty. The court set aside the ASI order of April 7, 2003.
“The community has waited seven centuries to restore the Ma Saraswati temple in Bhoshala and restore its glory,” said petitioner from the Hindu side Ashish Goyal. Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represented the Hindu petitioners, said, “The ASI order brought the Supreme Court’s directions into effect and Hindus can now visit and worship in the complex without any restrictions.”
The Supreme Court, in its order, noted that if Maulana Kamaluddin Charitable Society seeks a plot of land in Dhar area to build a mosque, the state government is free to consider the application.
Dhar City Judge Waqar Sadiq rejected the proposal and said: “The Muslim community has no intention of accepting any alternative land.” Representatives of Maulana Kamaluddin Charitable Society, which discussed the issue of the Islamic side during the 36 days of hearings, maintained that the ASI poll was partisan and said: “The Supreme Court ruling will be conveyed to the Supreme Court.”
“Kamal Maula Mosque existed in the past, it exists now, and it will continue to exist,” All India Muslim Jamaat President Maulana Shahabuddin Rizvi Barelvi said.
The Islamic side said it would appeal the ruling before the Supreme Court. The Hindu petitioners have already filed a caveat in the Supreme Court.
