Bhojshala Dispute: Supreme Court to Hear Muslim Side's Plea Over Distant Prayer Site on Friday

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a plea from the Muslim side in the Bhojshala complex dispute after petitioners alleged that the alternate site provided by the Madhya Pradesh government for Friday prayers was too far from the contested site. The matter is scheduled for Friday.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana heard the submission. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Muslim side, said the court's earlier order had directed the state to provide an open space near the Bhojshala site for offering prayers. However, the land identified by the authorities was around 2 km away, he alleged.

"The order was that land should be near the Bhojshala site. The land given for Friday prayer is 2 km away. We have already missed Friday prayers," Ahmadi told the bench, as reported by news agency PTI.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Madhya Pradesh government, said the alternate site was approximately 900 metres from the disputed complex. He assured the court that he would personally verify the issue. "I will personally look into this and rectify it," Mehta said, according to PTI.

Justice Bagchi underlined that the court's previous directions must be implemented as intended. "The court's earlier order has to be followed in letter and spirit," he observed.

The bench then agreed to list the matter for hearing on Friday and directed the solicitor general to seek instructions from the state government regarding the provision of an "adjacent site" for offering namaz.

The dispute stems from the Supreme Court's interim order of July 14, when it heard appeals against the Madhya Pradesh High Court's judgment declaring the Bhojshala complex a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. In that order, the apex court directed the state government to provide Muslims with a separate open space adjacent to the disputed site for offering Friday namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm until the matter is finally decided.

The court had clarified that the arrangement would remain ad hoc and subject to the final outcome of the petitions. It also directed the Archaeological Survey of India not to carry out any structural changes at the disputed site without prior permission from the court.

While issuing the interim directions, the Supreme Court urged restraint from both communities, observing that Bhojshala was a sensitive dispute. The court also indicated its readiness to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis if necessary.