Madhya Pradesh HC recognises Bhojshala as Vagdevi temple; devotees hold prayers

High Court partly quashes 2003 ASI order, Hindu groups regain right to worship at Bhojshala; Hanuman Chalisa recited after verdict

The Indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court on Saturday recognised the disputed Bhojshala–Kamal Maula complex in Dhar as the temple of Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati) dating to the Bhoj-Parmar era, and granted the Hindu side the right to worship at the site, leading to early-morning prayers and celebrations by devotees.

Verdict and immediate response
According to court records made public on Saturday, the bench based its ruling on historical material indicating the site’s origin in the period of King Bhoj of the Bhoj-Parmar dynasty. The court also partially quashed an April 7, 2003, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) order that had permitted the Muslim community to offer namaz at the site for a fixed period on Fridays, lawyers involved in the case said.

Following the verdict, office-bearers and members of local Bhojshala committees reached the complex in Dhar on Saturday morning under tight security. “All office bearers reached near the Yagya Kund, had darshan and recited the Hanuman Chalisa,” an organiser said. Committee convener Gopal Sharma and other officials offered flowers and performed rituals at the sanctum sanctorum of Maa Vagdevi. Officials also distributed sweets to mark the development.

Legal and administrative notes
ASI lawyer Aviral Vikas Khare told reporters the monument’s protected status remains intact. The ASI has maintained Bhojshala as a protected monument since 1904, and the court reiterated that complete administration, regulation and supervision of the structure will continue to rest solely with the ASI, the lawyer said.

Hindu counsel Vishnu Shankar Jain, who represented petitioners seeking worship rights, welcomed the judgment. He said the court had partially stayed the 2003 ASI direction and recognised the site as a temple, thereby restoring worship rights. Jain added that the court considered a demand to return an original idol of Vagdevi currently held in a museum in London, though he did not detail the bench’s direction on that specific point.

Ground-level scene
Local residents and pilgrims described a calm, orderly atmosphere at the heritage complex in the late morning. Devotees said they finally had an opportunity to perform rituals without restrictions. “Every particle of Bhojshala indicates that it is a temple,” Gopal Sharma told reporters after performing darshan near the Yagya Kund.

Security and civic monitoring
Dhar city authorities mounted tight security around the Bhojshala complex on Saturday, with local police and district officials monitoring the situation, officials said. Sources familiar with administration plans said additional deployments remained in place to pre-empt any untoward incidents and to ensure peaceful observance by both communities.

Potential Supreme Court action
While celebrations took place among Hindu groups, legal counsels on both sides signalled the possibility of further litigation. The Hindu side has filed two caveat petitions in the Supreme Court, anticipating challenges by the Muslim side, Vishnu Shankar Jain said. There was no immediate confirmation from lawyers representing the Muslim side about whether they would seek a review or approach the apex court.

Historical context
Bhojshala, located in Dhar district, is a complex of medieval structures long associated with King Bhoj (11th–12th century) and has been at the centre of competing claims over religious use. The site has attracted attention from historians and archaeologists for inscriptions and carvings linked to Sanskrit learning and temple architecture, while also being used for religious activities by multiple communities over decades.

Public reaction and outlook
Local civic leaders urged calm and respect for the ASI’s administrative role. “The court has set the legal position today; administration will continue under ASI,” an assistant district magistrate said. Officials said they would hold meetings in coming days with community representatives to ensure worship and access proceed without friction.

For now, the most visible change is at the ground level: devotees offering prayers, rituals conducted peacefully, and the recitation of the Hanuman Chalisa in the complex stands as the immediate public expression of the court’s ruling. How the decision evolves through further appeals or administrative directions will determine the long-term status of Bhojshala.