Bhojshala NEW DELHI: Days after the Madhya Pradesh high court’s verdict declaring Dhar’s Bhojshala complex as the temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), a fresh petition has been filed by members of the Hindu side seeking free entry for devotees and further excavation at the site.According to the petitioners, not even the existing Re 1 entry fee should be charged from worshippers visiting the complex.Petitioner Ashish Goyal, associated with the ‘Hindu Front for Justice’, submitted an application to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday demanding unrestricted free access to devotees. He argued that charging an entry fee amounted to ‘disobedience’ of the May 15 high court order recognising the site as a temple.Goyal also sought the immediate opening of a locked room located in the south-eastern section of the Bhojshala complex, claiming it was part of the original temple structure. In his application, he further demanded the removal of what he described as ‘unauthorised Islamic symbols’ from the premises in view of the court ruling.In a separate application sent to the union culture ministry and the ASI, another petitioner, Kuldeep Tiwari, called for a scientific excavation of the site. Tiwari claimed there was a strong local belief that idols of Lord Hanuman and other Hindu deities were buried beneath the complex and sought their retrieval and reinstallation through religious rituals.The fresh demands come days after the Madhya Pradesh high court recognised the disputed Bhojshala complex as a Vagdevi temple and quashed the ASI’s April 7, 2003 order that had allowed Muslims to offer namaz at the site on Fridays while permitting Hindu worship only on Tuesdays.Following the verdict, the ASI on May 16 granted Hindus unrestricted access to the monument for worship and other purposes.In its May 15 judgment, a division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi observed that historical records and literature established Bhojshala as a centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty and indicated the existence of a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati at the site.”We have noted the continuity of Hindu worship at the site through regulated worship over time, which has never been extinguished,” the court said.The high court also suggested that the government may consider bringing back the idol of Goddess Vagdevi from the British Museum in London. At the same time, it observed that the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society or any new Waqf body may seek alternate land in Dhar for the establishment of a mosque.Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the Hindu side, had described the ruling as a ‘historic verdict’ and said the court had recognised the Bhojshala complex as belonging to Raja Bhoj while granting Hindus the right to worship.The legal dispute centres around the religious character of the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. Hindus maintain that the site is a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), while Muslims consider it the Kamal Maula mosque.Soon after the high court ruling, two caveat pleas were also filed in the Supreme Court by members of the Hindu side anticipating a possible challenge to the verdict by the Muslim side. The pleas sought a direction that no order be passed by the apex court without hearing them first.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia Pushes Nuclear Expansion And SMR Manufacturing In Major Talks With US DelegationRs 600 Crore Railway Land Clearance In Mumbai Triggers Violence During Eviction DriveBengal Orders Mandatory Singing Of ‘Vande Mataram’ In All Recognised Madrasahs Across StatePM Modi Returns From Europe, Calls Crucial Ministerial Meeting Amid West Asia CrisisTMC Faces Double Setback As MLAs Skip Protest And Councillors Resign In Two MunicipalitiesFalta Re-Poll Begins After Irregularities; Voters Say They Can Finally Vote Without FearTMC Alleges Post-Poll Violence, Harassment Of Workers During Kolkata ProtestModi-Meloni Talks Boost India-Italy Defence, IMEC And Technology Cooperation’India Won’t Tolerate Any Form Of Nuclear Blackmail’: Rajnath Singh In South KoreaWho Is Ryan Williams? 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NEW DELHI: Days after the Madhya Pradesh high court’s verdict declaring Dhar’s Bhojshala complex as the temple of Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), a fresh petition has been filed by members of the Hindu side seeking free entry for devotees and further excavation at the site.According to the petitioners, not even the existing Re 1 entry fee should be charged from worshippers visiting the complex.Petitioner Ashish Goyal, associated with the ‘Hindu Front for Justice’, submitted an application to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Wednesday demanding unrestricted free access to devotees. He argued that charging an entry fee amounted to ‘disobedience’ of the May 15 high court order recognising the site as a temple.Goyal also sought the immediate opening of a locked room located in the south-eastern section of the Bhojshala complex, claiming it was part of the original temple structure. In his application, he further demanded the removal of what he described as ‘unauthorised Islamic symbols’ from the premises in view of the court ruling.In a separate application sent to the union culture ministry and the ASI, another petitioner, Kuldeep Tiwari, called for a scientific excavation of the site. Tiwari claimed there was a strong local belief that idols of Lord Hanuman and other Hindu deities were buried beneath the complex and sought their retrieval and reinstallation through religious rituals.The fresh demands come days after the Madhya Pradesh high court recognised the disputed Bhojshala complex as a Vagdevi temple and quashed the ASI’s April 7, 2003 order that had allowed Muslims to offer namaz at the site on Fridays while permitting Hindu worship only on Tuesdays.Following the verdict, the ASI on May 16 granted Hindus unrestricted access to the monument for worship and other purposes.In its May 15 judgment, a division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi observed that historical records and literature established Bhojshala as a centre of Sanskrit learning associated with Raja Bhoj of the Parmar dynasty and indicated the existence of a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati at the site.“We have noted the continuity of Hindu worship at the site through regulated worship over time, which has never been extinguished,” the court said.The high court also suggested that the government may consider bringing back the idol of Goddess Vagdevi from the British Museum in London. At the same time, it observed that the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society or any new Waqf body may seek alternate land in Dhar for the establishment of a mosque.Advocate Vishnu Shankar Jain, appearing for the Hindu side, had described the ruling as a ‘historic verdict’ and said the court had recognised the Bhojshala complex as belonging to Raja Bhoj while granting Hindus the right to worship.The legal dispute centres around the religious character of the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. Hindus maintain that the site is a temple dedicated to Goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati), while Muslims consider it the Kamal Maula mosque.Soon after the high court ruling, two caveat pleas were also filed in the Supreme Court by members of the Hindu side anticipating a possible challenge to the verdict by the Muslim side. The pleas sought a direction that no order be passed by the apex court without hearing them first.
