Supreme Court agrees to list all petitions challenging HC decision in Bhojshala case
The Supreme Court of India has agreed to urgently list petitions challenging a High Court ruling that declared the Bhojshala complex a temple. The site is a subject of long-standing religious dispute between Hindu and Muslim communities.
Why it matters
The case represents a significant intersection of religious freedom, historical monument preservation, and judicial intervention in India.
The Supreme Court agreed on Monday (July 13, 2026) to urgently list all of the multiple petitions challenging a Madhya Pradesh High Court order declaring that the disputed Bhojshala complex i n the State was a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, while the Muslim side calls the 11th-century monument the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex in Dhar district is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
One of the appeals is filed by the mosque’s caretaker, Qazi Moinuddin, has challenged the May 15 order of the High Court.
The High Court had also quashed an April 7, 2003, order of the Archaeological Survey of India allowing Muslims to offer namaz inside the Bhojshala complex every Friday.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in