MP High Court to hold next hearing on ASI’s survey report in Dhar Bhojshala complex issue after Supreme Court issues direction

Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], July 22 (ANI): Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court has said that the next hearing on Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)’s survey report in the disputed Dhar’s Bhojshala complex issue will be held after the direction of the Supreme Court.

During the hearing of the case on Monday, a division bench of justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Duppala Venkata Ramana said that a petition was filed by the Muslim side before the Supreme Court earlier, following which the apex court put an interim stay on the outcome of the ASI’s survey report. After the hearing in the Supreme Court which is likely to be held on July 30, the next date for hearing into the matter will be announced.

Lawyer from Hindu side, Shreesh Dubey told ANI, “After ASI submitted its final survey report in the Bhojshala complex issue, a hearing into the matter was scheduled for today. During the hearing, a division bench of justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Duppala Venkata Ramana heard the case. Some parties who were not the actual respondent but associated with the matter did not receive the ASI survey report on which the court directed ASI to make the copy of the report available for them.”

“The court also said that an SLP civil (Special Leave Petition) was filed by the Muslim side before the Supreme Court in April seeking to stop the ASI survey on which the apex court had put an interim stay on the outcome of the ASI’s survey report. A hearing in the Supreme Court into the matter is likely to be held on July 30,” Dubey said.

“Additionally, the court said that after the hearing in the supreme court, the next date for hearing into the matter will be announced and based on the direction of the apex court the next hearing on ASI’s Survey will be held,” the Lawyer added.

ASI submitted its final survey report of around 2000 pages on disputed Dhar’s Bhojshala complex issue before the Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on July 15.

For Hindus, the Bhojshala Complex is a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), while for Muslims, it is the site of the Kamal Maula mosque. According to an arrangement made in 2003, Hindus perform puja at the complex on Tuesdays from sunrise to sunset while Muslims offer namaz on Fridays from 1 pm to 3 pm.

ASI began the survey at Bhojshala/Kamal Maula Mosque complex situated in the Dhar district on March 22 following the order of Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court.

In the order dated March 11, Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court had directed the ASI to constitute an expert committee that will “complete scientific investigation, survey and excavation, through the adoption of the latest methods and techniques” and submit the report within six weeks.

During the next hearing into the matter on April 29, the ASI sought more time for the survey. The court further granted ASI eight weeks’ time from April 29 for the survey.

The court also made clear that no further extension of time should be granted to comply with the order dated March 11.

The court had directed the ASI team to submit the complete exhaustive report on or before July 2, 2024. The next hearing into the matter was scheduled for today July 4.

During the hearing on July 4, the ASI sought further time of four weeks to submit the report and the court had ordered them to submit the report till July 15.