Bharuch Jama Masjid Row: Gujarat HC Issues Notices to Centre, State and ASI

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Monday issued notices to the Centre, state government authorities, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the trustees of Bharuch’s Jama or Jumma Masjid in connection with a petition seeking recognition of the 14th-century monument as a Jain temple.

The petitioners have also sought permission to worship at the site, claiming that an idol of Jain Tirthankar Lord Mallinath was discovered in the mosque’s basement. Their counsel sought interim protection for the idol and requested the court to restrain authorities from preventing members of the Jain community from offering prayers on the premises.

The state government, describing itself as the custodian of the site, also called for the idol’s protection and sought a status quo order. The government’s position was presented by government pleader G H Virk.

Several residents of Bharuch have approached the court seeking permission to become parties to the proceedings. Meanwhile, counsel representing the mosque’s trust, who appeared after receiving a copy of the petition, submitted that the monument had been recognised as a mosque for the past 122 years and was under the protection of the ASI.

Appearing for the ASI, advocate Ankit Shah told the court that the presence of the idol inside the monument was not disputed.

Counsel for the respondents requested the High Court to issue formal notices rather than proceed solely on oral submissions. Justice D M Desai subsequently issued notices and scheduled the next hearing for a week later.

The petition was filed earlier this month by four individuals belonging to the Jain and Hindu communities. They have argued that the discovery of an ancient idol of Lord Mallinath warrants the ASI being directed to recognise the monument as a Jain-Hindu temple. They have also sought to rename the site Ashwabodh Tirth and Shakunika Vihar and secure permission to worship there. DeshGujarat