Supreme Court orders Madhya Pradesh to secure nearby site for Friday prayers at Bhojshala dispute

The Supreme Court, through a panel headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, refined its prior interim ruling concerning the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. It authorized Muslim worshippers to perform Friday prayers between 1 pm and 3 pm on Khasra No 596, a parcel of Dargah land adjacent to the disputed complex, and ordered the state government to facilitate the arrangement. If the plot is later deemed inappropriate, the court permitted both the government and the Muslim community to jointly select another nearby venue.

The directive follows a complaint that the earlier alternative, situated roughly one kilometre from the complex, did not meet the court’s intent. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi voiced the community’s concerns, while Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pledged personal review of the matter. The order also reiterated that any structural changes by the Archaeological Survey of India at the site require Supreme Court approval. The case remains pending, with the final judgment on the complex’s status yet to be delivered.