The dispute over worship rights at Bharuch Jami Masjid has reached the Gujarat High Court, with five petitioners seeking permission for Jain devotees to worship and immediate protection for an idol they claim is located in the monument’s basement.
The petitioners, including local residents Harishankar Jain and Rahul Dewan, told the court that the idol of Lord Mallinath, the 19th Jain Tirthankar, is sacred to the Jain community. They expressed apprehension that it could be destroyed amid the controversy surrounding the character of the 14th-century monument.
The issue surfaced earlier this year after Jain groups claimed that the idol was discovered during an inspection of the mosque’s basement. The claim was followed by a rally by local Hindu and Jain groups. The development raised concerns about a possible breach of public order in Bharuch, prompting the Archaeological Survey of India to ask the district collector to ensure the monument’s protection.
According to the petitioners’ submissions, the Jami Masjid was declared a protected monument by the ASI in 1909 and has the status of a monument of national importance. The structure is believed to have been built during the reign of Ghiasuddin Tughlaq in the 14th century.
The petition also refers to the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, which governs the monument. The petitioners submitted that the law does not permit the character of a protected monument to be changed. At the same time, they argued that the claimed presence of the idol and the continuing controversy required authorities to take steps to safeguard it and address the Jain community’s request for worship.
The petitioners have made the Centre, the ASI, the Gujarat government and the managing committee of Jami Masjid respondents in the case. Their counsel told the court that allowing worship was necessary because the idol was highly sacred to the Jain community, while also warning that the object could be at risk if the dispute continued without protection.
Government pleader G H Virk submitted that he found some merit in the petitioners’ case. Justice Nisha Thakore has posted the matter for further hearing on Friday. The court’s proceedings will determine the next steps sought from the authorities regarding the claimed idol, access for worship and protection of the historic monument.
