New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed that members of the Muslim community be provided an alternative open space adjacent to the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, for offering Friday prayers until a final decision is delivered in the case.<\/p>\n
A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the prayers may be offered between 1 pm and 3 pm every Friday. Describing the matter as highly sensitive, the court urged both sides to maintain peace and restraint.<\/p>\n
The Bench also directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) not to undertake any structural changes at the disputed site without prior permission from the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
The matter reached the apex court after the Muslim side challenged a Madhya Pradesh High Court judgment declaring the Bhojshala complex as the Mata Saraswati Temple. The High Court’s ruling had set aside a 2003 arrangement under which Hindus were allowed to worship at the site on Tuesdays, while Muslims could offer Friday prayers.<\/p>\n
Hindus claim the site as the historic Saraswati Temple, whereas Muslims identify it as the 11th-century Kamal Maula Mosque.<\/p>\n
During the hearing, counsel for the Muslim side argued that Friday prayers had been offered at the site for nearly 700 years and sought restoration of the earlier arrangement. Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, submitted that restoring the previous system would create administrative difficulties.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court said it is prepared to hear the matter on a day-to-day basis to ensure an early resolution of the long-pending dispute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed that members of the Muslim community be provided an alternative open space adjacent to the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, for offering Friday prayers until a final decision is delivered in the case. A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the prayers may be […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":6558,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,37],"tags":[16939,16940,16938,16941],"class_list":["post-68374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-national","tag-friday-prayers","tag-near-bhojshala-complex","tag-supreme-court-allows","tag-until-final-verdict"],"yoast_head":"\n