Disputed Bhojshala complex a temple, says M.P. High Court, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Madhya Pradesh High Court declared the Bhojshala complex in Dhar district a temple dedicated to goddess Vagdevi (Saraswati).
• The court dismissed the Muslim community's claim and allowed the Hindu community to worship at the site.
• A 2003 order by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which allowed Muslims to offer Friday prayers, was quashed.
• The court directed the Union government to retrieve an idol of Goddess Saraswati from the London Museum.

Detailed Insights:

• The court's decision was influenced by the principles of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid verdict.
• The Muslim community has the option to apply for an alternate piece of land in Dhar district for constructing a mosque.
• The ASI will have full supervisory control over the preservation, conservation, and regulation of religious access to the Bhojshala temple.
• The court rejected the argument based on a 1935 Ailaan declaring the site a mosque, stating that the Government of India Act, 1935 was enforced later in 1937.
• The ASI survey report, which the Muslim side alleged was biased, used scientific methods like carbon dating and palaeography to determine the structure's age.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Archaeological Survey of India (ASI): An Indian government agency responsible for archaeological research and the conservation of cultural monuments in the country.
• Carbon Dating: A scientific method used to determine the age of an object by measuring the amount of carbon-14 remaining in it.
• Palaeography: The study of ancient writing systems and the deciphering and dating of historical manuscripts.