By Admin 
The Supreme Court has ordered to make special arrangements for Basant Panchami puja and Friday prayers on January 23 at Dhar Bhojshala in Madhya Pradesh. On Thursday (January 22, 2025), the court heard the matter and ordered that arrangements for Basant Panchami puja and Friday prayers should be made at different places in the campus so that conflict situations do not arise. Separate routes should also be kept for the movement of people of both the communities.
An organization named Hindu Front for Justice had filed a petition demanding to stop Muslims from offering Namaz there on the day of Basant Panchami. During the hearing, the Hindu side said that on the day of Basant Panchami, Saraswati Puja continues from sunrise to sunset. At the same time, the Muslim side argues that the timing of Friday namaz is from 1 to 3 pm and the time of this namaz is fixed, it cannot be shifted.
The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi said, ‘Before us is only the case of the ASI order of 2003. In that order, ASI had given permission for prayers on Friday and worship on Tuesday and Basant Panchami.
What did the Supreme Court say in the order?
CJI Surya Kant said that this year Basant Panchami is on Friday. It was argued before us that due to this the administration may face difficulty in making arrangements. We heard the mosque side, MP government and ASI. Also heard the petitioner. While giving the order, the CJI said, ‘The state government told that Muslims want to come between 1 to 3 o’clock. A separate route has been kept for their movement. The place of namaz has also been decided. The place of worship for the Hindu side has also been decided. He assured that law and order will be taken care of.
There will be separate routes for Muslims and Hindus to travel.
A lawyer said during the hearing that there is only one gate to enter the campus, on which the court said that the administration will take care of it. MP’s lawyer requested that the court should ask the Muslim side to tell the number of namazis by evening so that passes can be issued to them. The Muslim side agreed to this.
Passes will be issued to Muslims
The court said that the DM should be informed about the estimated number. All parties should have respect for each other and cooperate with the administration. At present, the court is also disposing of the main case pending before it in the Bhojshala case. He says that the matter should be heard by the High Court first.
Madhya Pradesh’s lawyer said that we have fixed a place in the campus, where Namaz will be held and the worship will not be disrupted. The CJI said in the order, ‘This is an archaeological complex. There are two-sided claims regarding this. The matter is pending in the High Court, hence, we are not expressing any opinion on it.
In today’s hearing, the Supreme Court has disposed of the petition of the mosque side. The mosque side had challenged the survey of the Bhojshala premises. Then the Supreme Court had banned taking any action on the basis of the survey. Now the Supreme Court has sent the case back to the division bench of the High Court. This means that now on the basis of the survey report, further hearing will start in the High Court.
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‘Time fixed for Friday Namaz’, when will Basant Panchami puja be held in Dhar Bhojshala? SC gave this suggestion