ASI report claims temple remains used in Kamal Maula mosque; court seeks responses

Indore Bench directs parties to file objections within two weeks; next hearing on March 16

February 24, 2026

Bhojshala dispute: ASI report under court review

Bhojshala row intensifies: ASI says Kamal Maula mosque built using temple remains

The decades-old Bhojshala dispute in Dhar has entered a decisive phase after the Archaeological Survey of India concluded that the Kamal Maula mosque at the complex was constructed using remains of ancient temples.

In a detailed report submitted to the Indore Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in 2024, the ASI stated that its findings were based on “scientific investigations, excavation, architectural analysis, inscriptions, art and sculptures”. The report asserts that the existing structure was built centuries later “without much attention to symmetry, design, or uniformity,” suggesting reuse of earlier temple materials.

On Monday, a bench comprising Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi directed that the ASI report be made available to all parties in the case. Petitioners and respondents have been asked to file objections and suggestions within two weeks. The next hearing is scheduled for March 16.

What the ASI found

The nearly 100-day scientific survey documented inscriptions from the 11th to 20th centuries in Sanskrit, Prakrit, Nagari, Arabic and Persian. Over 1,700 artefacts were recorded, including pillars, sculptural fragments, deity figures and structural remains.

The ASI report links several inscriptions and architectural elements to the Paramara dynasty, particularly the era of Raja Bhoj. Sanskrit verses invoking Goddess Saraswati, temple-style pillar bases, lotus motifs and kirtimukhas were among the documented features. Structural alignments at the foundational level were said to match traditional temple architecture.

At the same time, the report also acknowledges Islamic architectural features such as arches, mihrab orientation and Persian inscriptions, indicating the site’s later use as a mosque and dargah. Persian records refer to construction works during the reign of Sultan Mahmud Shah I of Malwa in the 15th century.

Legal and political implications

The Bhojshala complex is claimed by Hindus as a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim community identifies it as the 11th-century Kamal Maula Mosque. The monument is protected by the ASI and has been at the centre of legal and communal tensions for years.

Earlier, the Supreme Court of India directed the High Court to open the sealed-cover ASI report. The current proceedings are expected to determine how the findings shape the legal battle ahead.

Advocates for Hindu petitioners have hailed the report as validation of their claims, asserting that the structure dates back nearly a millennium to the Paramara period. Muslim parties are expected to challenge the interpretation of the findings.

With the High Court now formally seeking objections from all sides, the ASI’s conclusions will face rigorous judicial scrutiny. The March 16 hearing could mark a turning point in one of Madhya Pradesh’s most sensitive and closely watched heritage disputes.

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