HC to hear objections on ASI survey report of Bhojshala complex

Indore: The Indore bench of MP High Court will hear objections and suggestions on the survey report of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque in Dhar district, on Monday.The division bench of Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla and Justice Alok Awasthi listed the matter at number 45.On Feb 23, the bench, while hearing a bunch of petitions on Bhojshala-Kamal Maula complex, also directed all parties to file their ‘objections, opinions, suggestions and recommendations' to the ASI report.The Indore bench heard the petitions on directions of the Supreme Court, which directed that the ASI report—10 volumes covered in over 2000 pages—may be ‘unsealed' and copies given to the petitioners and respondents.The ASI, through a five-member expert committee, had conducted a 98-day scientific survey at the disputed complex following HC orders, deploying the latest techniques involving GPR/GPS survey, photography, videography and carbon dating.The medieval-era monument in Dhar has been embroiled in a long-standing religious dispute, with Hindus claiming it as a temple of Goddess Vaghdevi (Saraswati) and Muslims calling it the Kamal Maula mosque.The ASI concluded that the Kamal Maula mosque in Dhar, was constructed using parts of ancient temples, and the existing structure was built ‘without much attention to symmetry, design, or uniformity' centuries later."Based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, inscriptions, art and sculptures, it can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples," the ASI report said.