SC marks plot close to Bhojshala for namaz

The Supreme Court directed the Madhya Pradesh government to allow Friday namaz at a specific plot (Khasra No. 596) near the Bhojshala Temple-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar.

The order came after the Muslim side argued that the site earlier earmarked by the administration was 1.3 km away, not 'adjacent to or near' the complex as per the court's July 14 interim order.

The bench, comprising CJI Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, accepted the grievance and permitted the use of the closer plot as an interim arrangement.

The court left open the possibility for parties to mutually identify a more suitable alternate site in the future.

The dispute concerns the Bhojshala complex, claimed by Hindus as an ancient temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.