Owaisi Criticizes Madhya Pradesh High Court's Ruling on Bhojshala Structure

AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi has voiced strong objections to the Madhya Pradesh High Court's ruling that designated the Bhojshala structure as a temple for Goddess Saraswati. He believes this decision mirrors the Babri Masjid case and hopes the Supreme Court will overturn it. The Muslim community plans to appeal the ruling, while the court's decision has reignited the long-standing dispute over the site's religious identity. The article delves into the historical context and implications of this ruling, highlighting the perspectives of various communities involved.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 15, 2026, 16:24 IST

Owaisi's Strong Opposition to Court's Decision

Asaduddin Owaisi, a member of parliament from AIMIM, has expressed strong disapproval of the Madhya Pradesh High Court's ruling that declared the disputed Bhojshala structure as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. He likened this decision to the controversial Babri Masjid verdict and expressed hope that the Supreme Court would overturn it. In a post on X, Owaisi stated, "We are hopeful that the Supreme Court will resolve this matter and reverse this order, which bears clear similarities to the Babri Masjid ruling."

Muslim Community's Response

The Muslim side has also indicated plans to appeal to the Supreme Court regarding this decision. Kazi Wakar Sadiq from Dhar city mentioned to a news agency that they will review the ruling against them and challenge it in the Supreme Court. The High Court's ruling on Friday declared the Bhojshala complex in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district as a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. The court also suggested that the Muslim community could approach the state government for separate land allocation to construct a mosque.

Details of the Bhojshala Dispute

In its ruling concerning the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque dispute, the court noted evidence of a Sanskrit learning center and a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati at the site. This dispute pertains to the religious identity of a monument protected by the Archaeological Survey of India in Dhar district. The Hindu community regards Bhojshala as a temple for Goddess Saraswati, while the Muslim community identifies it as Kamal Maula mosque. Additionally, a Jain petitioner has claimed that the disputed site was a medieval Jain temple and gurukul.

Historical Context of the Dispute

Following the escalation of the Bhojshala controversy, the Archaeological Survey of India issued an order on April 7, 2003, allowing Hindus to worship there every Tuesday and Muslims every Friday. The Hindu side challenged this order in the High Court, seeking exclusive rights to worship at the site. The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, comprising Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi, commenced regular hearings on five petitions and a writ appeal related to this dispute on April 6 of this year.