900 Metres or 1.3 Km? SC to Hear Dispute Over Bhojshala Prayer Site

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear on July 29 a plea filed by the Muslim side challenging the distance of an alternative site identified by the Madhya Pradesh government for offering Friday namaz near the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar.

The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant by senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi after the plea was not included in the day's cause list. The court had earlier assured that the matter would be listed on Friday.

Appearing for the Muslim side, Ahmadi claimed that the site designated by the state authorities was located 1.3 km away by road from the disputed complex. He argued that the arrangement was not in line with the court's earlier direction to identify a prayer site near the disputed premises.

"Two Friday prayers have already been missed," Ahmadi submitted, alleging that efforts were being made to avoid compliance with the court's directions.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Madhya Pradesh government, disputed the distance claimed by the Muslim side, stating that the alternative location was around 900 metres away. Responding to Ahmadi's submission, Mehta said he could not be "swayed away by emotions."

Chief Justice Surya Kant subsequently directed that the interim plea be listed for hearing on Wednesday, July 29.

Earlier, Mehta had informed the court that he would ask the state administration to explore the possibility of identifying a nearer location for Friday prayers. "I have asked them to identify a nearby site, and the process is going on," he had said.

On July 14, the Supreme Court had directed the Madhya Pradesh government to provide a separate open space adjacent to the disputed Bhojshala complex for offering Friday namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm until the dispute is finally adjudicated.

The direction came while the court was hearing appeals filed by the Muslim side against a Madhya Pradesh High Court judgment concerning the religious character of the disputed Bhojshala complex, which the High Court had declared a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati.