The Supreme Court has ordered the Madhya Pradesh administration to permit Friday prayers on dargah land adjacent to the Bhojshala complex in Dhar. The ruling addresses complaints regarding the distance of previously allocated prayer sites, reinstating a proximity standard that petitioners argued had been violated. This decision clarifies administrative requirements for religious site access in the region.
The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a specific directive to the Madhya Pradesh state administration regarding the allocation of land for Friday prayers near the Bhojshala complex in Dhar. The bench, led by the Chief Justice of India, mandated that the Muslim community be allowed to offer prayers on land identified as Khasra No 596, which is situated directly adjacent to the Bhojshala monument.
Resolution of Distance Dispute
The court’s intervention follows a legal challenge regarding the accessibility of prayer sites designated by local authorities. Petitioners had contested a previous order from the District Collector that allocated a location more than 1.3 kilometers away from the primary mosque. Legal counsel for the petitioners argued that this distance failed to align with prior court instructions, which intended to provide an accessible open space for prayers between 1 pm and 3 pm.
During the proceedings, the Bhojshala Samiti, an organization involved in the dispute, had raised concerns regarding the proximity of prayer activities to the Bhojshala complex. The site is currently managed under Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) regulations, and the Samiti had argued that conducting prayers in close vicinity could impact the site's status as a protected monument and educational area.
Administrative Oversight and Previous Arrangements
The administration had previously cited logistical challenges, including site security and the feasibility of maintaining separate entry and exit routes for different communities, as reasons for moving the prayer site further away. However, the Supreme Court bench questioned these justifications, specifically examining site maps to determine if a closer location could be managed effectively.
The petitioners sought a return to a long-standing arrangement that had reportedly been in practice since 2003, under which Friday prayers were conducted at the site, while Tuesdays were reserved for worship at the Bhojshala complex by other groups. By ordering the use of the dargah land at Khasra No 596, the court has prioritised the community's request for visibility and proximity to the mosque.
Future Implications for Local Administration
The Supreme Court’s order serves as a definitive instruction for the district administration, which must now facilitate the arrangement at the specified location. The court also clarified that this ruling does not prevent the parties involved from pursuing future mutual agreements on alternative locations if they choose to do so. Investors and observers in the region may track how the local administration manages site security and public order protocols following this shift, as well as any subsequent filings from the involved organizations regarding the implementation of this mandate.