Bhojshala–Kamal Maula Hearing Pushed to Feb. 18 by MP High Court

Overview

• The scheduled presentation of the ASI's 98-day survey report was deferred due to a statewide lawyers' strike, with the next hearing set for Wednesday.
• The division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi ordered that connected cases be sent to the Chief Justice to be heard with a writ appeal pending at the Jabalpur principal bench.
• Following a January 22 Supreme Court directive, the High Court will unseal the ASI report, supply it to the parties, allow inspection of non-copyable portions with counsel, and invite objections before a final hearing.
• The Supreme Court's status quo order remains in force, requiring compliance with the ASI's April 2023 access arrangement that permits Hindu prayers on Tuesdays and Muslim namaz on Fridays.
• Litigants Ashish Goyal of the Hindu Front for Justice and Abdul Samad of the Maulana Kamaluddin Welfare Society appeared in person, with Samad urging disposal of a 2019 petition challenging a 2003 ASI order.