Rush Hour: No interim relief to Muslim side in Bhojshala case, SC fines Samay Raina Rs 3 lakh & more

The Supreme Court declined to pass an interim order allowing Friday namaz at the disputed Bhojshala-Kamal Maula mosque complex in Madhya Pradesh’s Dhar district. However, the court told the state government to make available an open space adjacent to the complex for Muslims to offer namaz on Fridays between 1 pm and 3 pm.

The arrangement would be temporary and subject to the final ruling in the matter, the court added.

On May 15, the High Court ruled that the complex in Dhar district is a temple of Hindu deity Saraswati and quashed a 2003 order of the Archaeological Survey of India allowing Hindus to perform prayers on the premises on Tuesdays and Muslims to offer namaz in the complex on Fridays.

Muslims groups have approached the Supreme Court challenging the order. Read on.

How SC’s evasion on Places of Worship Act challenge is powering new Hindutva claims on mosques, writes Vineet Bhalla

More than 1,800 members of civil society urged activist Sonam Wangchuk to withdraw his hunger strike. The fast, now in its 17th day, is part of the protest by the political campaign Cockroach Janta Party to demand the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged mismanagement in the conduct of competitive exams.

The signatories include actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna...

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