SC Denies Muslim Appeal of not to Conduct ‘Scientific Survey’ of MP Bhojshala
Supreme Court Denies Muslim Appeal, ASI to Conduct ‘Scientific Survey’ of Madhya Pradesh’s Bhojshala
In Dhar town of Madhya Pradesh, there is a dargah and mosque of Kamal Maulana, almost a thousand years old, under the supervision of ASI. Hindutva claims that the monument is actually a Saraswati temple built by Raja Bhoja.
Credit : DNP India
The Supreme Court did not stop the ‘scientific survey’ of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) at Bhojshala Darga in Madhya Pradesh. On Monday, the apex court dismissed the appeal filed by the Muslim side seeking a stay on the order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in this regard.
However, at the same time, the Supreme Court has clearly stated that under no circumstances will efforts to change the ‘character’ of the controversial structure be tolerated. A division bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice PK Misra issued this order to the central government, the Madhya Pradesh government and the district administration of that state.
A request for a ‘scientific survey’ of ASI was made by the Hindu side in Bhojshala like Gnanabapi in Varanasi. On March 11, the Madhya Pradesh High Court accepted the application and announced the verdict, the work of surveying the canteen also started. But the Muslim side challenged the verdict and appealed to the Supreme Court. A two-judge bench on Monday cleared the ‘scientific survey’ but issued a ban on attempts to change the ‘character’ of the monument through excavation.