SC to hear plea seeking permission to pray on Basant Panchami at disputed temple-mosque complex in MP

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a petition seeking permission for Hindus to perform religious rituals on the occasion of Basant Panchami at the Bhojshala complex, a disputed site in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. The site is currently protected by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) under a 2003 arrangement that allows Hindus to pray on Tuesdays and during the festival of Basant Panchami, while Muslims are permitted to offer Friday prayers. The plea specifically requests expanded or special access for the upcoming festival, which holds significant religious importance as it is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati. This legal development occurs alongside an ongoing scientific survey of the premises intended to determine its original character and historical architectural origins. The court’s decision is highly anticipated as it navigates the sensitive balance between maintaining a decades-old communal arrangement and addressing the religious aspirations of the petitioners during a major cultural milestone.