Ahmedabad, Oct 26 (PTI) The Gujarat High Court on Monday sought the response of the state and Central governments, ASI, and Bharuch’s Jami Masjid management while hearing a petition claiming that the mosque was originally a Jain religious site and demanding permission to worship within the monument.
The petition has sought the court’s direction to declare the “14-century” Jami Masjid, mentioned in the Archaeological Survey of India’s list of centrally protected monuments, as the Ashvabodh Tirth Shakunika Vihar, and allow the Jain community to perform worship of an idol of Lord Mallinath, reportedly found within the monument.
It also sought an interim direction to seal and protect the signs, symbols, artefacts, idols and other significant religious points of Jain worship purportedly present in the monument.
A single bench of Justice Devan M Desai issued notices to the Gujarat and Union governments, ASI, Bharuch collector, and the management of the Jami Masjid, seeking their responses by November 2.
The Jami Masjid has been a protected monument under the ASI as per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.
While the law dictates that the original form of a monument cannot be altered, the petitioners have said they fear for the safety of the idol of the 19th Jain Tirthankar Lord Mallinath.
The petitioners have told the High Court that there is an apprehension of damage to the idol kept on the premises of the Jami Masjid.
The counsel for the petitioners referred to a judgment of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in the Bhojshala case, and submitted that the idol of Jain Tirthankar Mallinath has been kept in the premises of the monument where the images and artefacts have been damaged.
The government counsel stated that there appears to be some merit in the applicants’ arguments. PTI KA NSK
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