SC asks Madhya Pradesh govt to allow namaz on land near Bhojshala tomorrow

The Supreme Court told the Madhya Pradesh administration to allow Friday namaz on dargah land next to Bhojshala in Dhar. The order came after the Muslim side said officials had not provided a nearby prayer site as earlier directed.The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Madhya Pradesh administration to allow the Muslim community to offer Friday namaz on a parcel of dargah land adjacent to the Bhojshala complex in Dhar, after hearing complaints that the administration had failed to comply with its earlier directions to provide a nearby site for prayers.A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohan heard the matter.Appearing for the Muslim petitioners, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi argued that the district administration had violated the Supreme Court's earlier order, which required it to provide an open space near the disputed site for Friday prayers between 1 pm and 3 pm.Ahmadi told the court that the Muslim community had submitted a representation to the Dhar Collector seeking space near the Bhojshala site for Friday namaz. However, he said an organisation called the Bhojshala Samiti objected to the proposal. According to Ahmadi, the Samiti's representation said that Bhojshala is a sacred educational area and an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected monument, and that allowing namaz near the site would affect the protected area. The representation further said that, in the interest of public sentiment, historical facts and law and order, the ASI should direct Muslims to offer namaz at a sufficient distance from the Bhojshala complex.Ahmadi argued that the Collector's subsequent order, which allotted "a separate open space located at sufficient distance from the protected monument" for Friday prayers, was contrary to the Supreme Court's earlier directions. He also referred to the administration's position that sufficient space was not available within the complex to create separate entry and exit routes for Hindus and Muslims without affecting security arrangements.The senior advocate told the Bench that the administration had allotted a site located more than 1.3 km from the mosque. He said the Muslim community had requested the restoration of the arrangement that had been in place since 2003, under which Muslims offered Friday prayers while Hindus worshipped at Bhojshala on Tuesdays."We had said please revert to the system that had been working since 2003—let us worship on Fridays and they pray on Tuesdays," Ahmadi submitted.He argued that the court had directed authorities to provide an adjacent site and said the administration instead offered land outside the Bhojshala complex. He added that the Muslim side had proposed four alternative sites near the complex, all of which were waqf land and none of which were privately owned.Ahmadi further informed the court that the administration had served a note on Friday morning stating that all four suggested sites were unsuitable.During the hearing, the Chief Justice asked whether a site plan of the area was available.The Muslim petitioners then showed a site map prepared by the Collector's office. Ahmadi used the map to identify the alternative locations suggested by the Muslim side, the Hindu side and the administration.Explaining the dispute, Ahmadi said the Hindu side claimed a right to enter the Bhojshala premises and offer prayers to Maa Saraswati inside the complex. He submitted that the Muslim community was only seeking permission to offer namaz in open land adjacent to Bhojshala, near the existing mosque.The Bench asked which of the suggested locations had been used when a similar issue arose while the suit was pending.Ahmadi replied that the issue had arisen when Vasant Panchami fell on a Friday.The Chief Justice then asked whether the Muslim side was willing to use the same location if a separate access road was available.Ahmadi responded that there was a separate access road and that the arrangement would be acceptable.The court also questioned the Madhya Pradesh administration on the alternative sites offered for namaz and asked why a nearby site could not be provided if separate access routes for Hindus and Muslims were possible.The Muslim petitioners also submitted that some Hindu organisations had opposed the earlier proposal that would have allowed Friday prayers within the Bhojshala complex but outside the protected monument.The Bench observed that it was trying to find "a convergence" between the competing claims.The petitioners further argued that they wanted to remain close to the mosque while offering prayers so that the mosque remained visible.After hearing the submissions, the Supreme Court directed the Madhya Pradesh administration to permit Friday namaz on land bearing Khasra No 596, identified as dargah land adjacent to the Bhojshala complex."It is clarified that the Muslim community may be permitted to offer namaz on Fridays from 1 pm to 3 pm at the land bearing Khasra Number 596, which is reported to be dargah land. The site is adjacent to the subject premises and appears to be suitable," the court ordered.The court also clarified that the order would not prevent both sides from mutually agreeing on any other alternative site in the future.During the hearing, Ahmadi requested the court to specifically permit the area marked as "dargah land" in the site plan for Friday prayers, a request that the Bench accepted while passing its directions.- EndsPublished By: Akshat TrivediPublished On: Jul 30, 2026 17:04 IST