The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has said it would challenge in the Supreme Court a Madhya Pradesh High Court ruling declaring the Bhojshala-Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar a Saraswati temple.
In a statement, the Muslim body said the verdict was “contrary to historical facts, official records and archaeological evidence” and conflicted with the spirit of the Places of Worship Act, 1991.
AIMPLB spokesperson S.Q.R. Ilyas said the court had overlooked revenue records, colonial-era documents and what he described as centuries-old Muslim religious association with the site.
The board said the Archaeological Survey of India’s earlier records and signboards had referred to the complex as “Bhojshala/Kamal Maula Mosque”, reflecting its disputed and shared religious character. It also cited a 2003 arrangement under which Hindus were allowed to offer prayers on Tuesdays and Muslims were permitted to hold Friday prayers.
The High Court’s ruling ending that arrangement marked a departure from the ASI’s earlier position, the board said.
The Muslim body also disputed the reliance placed on ASI survey findings citing pillars, carvings and architectural features as evidence of a temple, arguing that many medieval Islamic structures incorporated material from earlier buildings.
It said the existence of non-Islamic architectural elements could not legally negate the long-standing status of a mosque.
The AIMPLB said it would extend legal and moral support to the Kamal Maula Mosque Committee in its appeal before the Supreme Court.
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