The ruling by the Madhya Pradesh High Court ended Muslim prayers at the Kamal Maula Mosque complex in Dhar.

The dispute concerns Bhojshala, an 11th-century monument claimed by Hindus as a temple, while Muslims regard the adjacent Kamal Maula structure as a mosque where prayers have historically been offered.

On Sunday, saffron flags were raised at the site, and Hindu worshippers gathered for rituals amid heavy police presence, while activists installed a temporary idol of the deities.

The court’s decision relied on a 2022 survey by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and dismissed petitions from the Muslim community.

Hindu parties hailed the verdict as historic, while Muslim leaders vowed to challenge it in the Supreme Court, according to a report by Al Jazeera.

“This is an erroneous judgment and a violation of established law,” said Ashhar Warsi, a lawyer representing the Muslim side.

Critics point out that the ruling mirrors the 2019 Supreme Court decision on the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, which has encouraged similar claims across India, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi and the Shahi Eidgah in Mathura.

Historian Audrey Truschke described the trend as “part of entrenched Islamophobia” within Hindu nationalist politics, arguing it threatens Muslim religious freedom.

For many Muslims in Dhar, the ruling is deeply personal. “Until last Friday, our mosque was ours; today it is not,” Rafiq said.

Supporters of the ruling, including local Hindu groups, framed it as restoring the dignity of the deities and “Hindu civilisation,” drawing inspiration from the Babri Mosque verdict.

Gopal Sharma, convener of a local Hindu organisation, told Al Jazeera: “The confidence since the Babri Mosque demolition is now leading us to establish the Hindu order in the country.”

The Bhojshala case highlights the rising tension between India’s secular laws and the rising influence of the Hindutva movement, as historical claims over religious sites increasingly shape modern politics.