New Delhi, 13 July (H.S.): The Supreme Court will hear on July 14 the petition filed by the Muslim side challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court's judgment in the long-running Bhojshala Temple–Kamal Maula Mosque dispute in Dhar.

During proceedings on Monday, senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Muslim side, mentioned the matter before a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant. He submitted that while other petitions related to the case had been listed for hearing on July 14, the Muslim side's petition had not been included in the cause list. The Chief Justice subsequently directed that the petition also be listed for hearing on July 14.

Meanwhile, Hindu petitioner Jitendra Singh Visen has filed a caveat before the Supreme Court, requesting that no order be passed on any petition challenging the High Court's judgment without first hearing his side.

In its judgment, the Madhya Pradesh High Court held that the disputed site at Bhojshala is a temple associated with Goddess Saraswati. The High Court also set aside its April 7, 2003 order that had permitted Muslims to offer namaz within the Bhojshala complex.

According to Hindu organisations involved in the case, the Kamal Maula Mosque in Dhar is, in fact, the Bhojshala Temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, which they claim was built by King Bhoj in 1034 CE as a centre for Sanskrit learning.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar