Gujarat High Court orders ASI probe into Bharuch Jama Masjid dispute

The Gujarat High Court has directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to investigate claims regarding the 700-year-old Jama Masjid in Bharuch. A petition filed by five individuals alleges that the site, currently under ASI control, was originally a Jain pilgrimage center known as ‘Ashwabodh Tirtha’ or ‘Shakunika Vihar’.

The petitioners claim that an idol of the 19th Tirthankara, Mallinath, is located within the premises and are seeking legal recognition of the site as a Jain temple and the right to perform worship there. This follows previous controversies involving unauthorized entries and viral videos claiming to show deities in the mosque's basement.

The court has also sought a response from the central government regarding the matter. While the dispute involves claims from a sect in Maharashtra, the current legal action focuses on the Jain community's assertions. The mosque continues to function as a place of worship, with daily prayers being held.