The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notices on petitions filed by Muslim groups challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court judgement that declared the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex to be a Hindu temple, Live Law reported.
The court, however, declined to issue an interim order restoring the status quo that existed before the High Court’s verdict, under which both sides were allowed to pray inside the complex on designated days.
On May 15, the High Court ruled that the complex in Dhar district is a temple of Hindu deity Saraswati and quashed a 2003 order of the Archaeological Survey of India allowing Hindus to perform prayers on the premises on Tuesdays and Muslims to offer namaz in the complex on Fridays.
The High Court had allowed the Muslim side to seek alternative land within the district to build a mosque.
On Tuesday, a Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said that the court would not pass an order that may cause tensions, Live Law reported.
However, it ordered the Madhya Pradesh government to make available an open space adjacent to the complex for Muslims to offer namaz on Fridays between 1 pm and 3 pm. The arrangement would be temporary and subject to the final ruling in the matter,…
