SC to hear Muslim side's plea over Bhojshala alternate namaz site on July 24
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on Friday a plea by the Muslim side, which claimed that the alternate site identified by the
The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear on Friday a plea by the Muslim side, which claimed that the alternate site identified by the Madhya Pradesh government for offering namaz was too far from the disputed Bhojshala complex in Dhar. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to obtain instructions from the state government on whether an alternate prayer site could be provided adjacent to the disputed complex. Read Full Story Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the Muslim side, told the court that it had earlier directed the state to provide an open space near the Bhojshala site for prayers.
However, he alleged that the land identified by the authorities was around 2 km away. "The order was that land should be near the Bhojshala site. The land given for Friday prayer is 2 km away. We have already missed Friday prayers," Ahmadi said. Appearing for the Madhya Pradesh government, Mehta said the alternate site was about 900 metres away from the disputed complex. He, however, assured the bench that he would personally examine the issue and take appropriate steps if needed. "I will personally look into this and rectify it," Mehta said.
Justice Bagchi said the court's earlier order "has to be followed in letter and spirit". The bench then agreed to list the matter for hearing on Friday and directed the solicitor general to seek instructions from the state government on providing an "adjacent site" for offering namaz. On July 14, while hearing appeals by the Muslim side against the Madhya Pradesh High Court's judgment declaring the disputed Bhojshala complex a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati, the bench had directed the state government to provide a separate open space adjacent to the disputed site for offering Friday namaz between 1 pm and 3 pm until the matter is finally decided.
The case will now come up on Friday on the issue of the alternate prayer site. Ends
The BriefWire