[BREAKING] Madhya Pradesh HC notice to Centre in plea to bring back Saraswati idol from London, stop Namaz at Bhojshala complex

The Indore Bench of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday issued notice to the Central and State Governments and the Archaelogical Survery of India in a petition seeking to reclaim the Bhojshala complex located in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar for Hindus and prohibit Muslims from offering Namaz in its premises. (Hindu Front for Justice vs Union of India).A bench of Justices Vivek Rusia and Amarnath Keshwarwani noted that the petition argued by Advocate Hari Shankar Jain was a "comprehensive one".The bench admitted the plea and issued notice to ASI, the Central government and the State of Madhya Pradesh..The PIL challenges an ASI notification dated April 7, 2003, which allowed Muslims to offer namaz within Bhojshala complex , and "restricting the right of Hindus to worship within the aforesaid premises."The petitioner stated that it is "espousing the cause of Hindu community for enforcement of right to religion guaranteed under Article 25 and right to conserve cultural heritage under Article 29 of the Constitution of India."The plea sought to re-establish the idol of Goddess Saraswati (Vagdevi) which was established by King Bhoj in the year 1034 A.D but taken to London by the Britishers after it was desecrated. ."The religious sentiments of the followers of Sanatan Dharm are connected with the Bhojshala complex as a place of worship and learning of Indian culture. They have the right to exercise their Right to worship within the temple complex by virtue of Article 25," the PIL stated. .The petitioners further alleged that the ASI allowed Muslims to offer prayers within the temple complex on their "illegal demand on the ground that the Muslim rulers had constructed Kamal Maula Mosque at the said place"..Some of the questions raised by the PIL are:Whether Bhojshala temple complex was existing since 1034 A.D. and Muslim rulers destroyed/damaged part of the building? Whether any right accrues in favour of Muslim community who have raised any construction at the site of Hindu temple after demolishing it? Whether the Bhojshala complex has all the trappings of a Hindu temple? Whether mutilated idols in a religious building offends the religious sentiments of members of Hindu community?.The petitioner claimed that Hindus "have infeasible right to enter into the premises for Pooja and worship". "ASI cannot restrict the right of Hindus to worship there and any restriction put by ASI on Hindus to worship is hit by Article 25," the plea said. .Along with the prayer to allow Hindus to pray at the disputed site and have the idol of Saraswati installed, the plea also sought directions to the Centre to create a Trust under the provisions of Trust Act, 1882 for the purposes of administration and management of the affairs of Bhojshala Temple and Sanskrit learning within the property.The plea also made a categorical prayer to restrain Muslims from offering Namaz within the premises. .As interim prayers, preservation of inscriptions in the temple, and restraining Muslims from offering Friday prayers were sought.