The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Allahabad high court's verdict dividing in three parts the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, terming as "something strange" the judgement although the parties had not asked for trifurcation of the land.
The court, while staying the September 13, 2010 judgement of the Lucknow bench of the high court, ordered status quo at the site.
A bench of justices Aftab Alam and R.M. Lodha, while terming the high court's judgement "as something strange," said the partition of the land was ordered despite none of the parties to the dispute seeking it.
While directing that there shall be no religious activity on the 67 acre land, acquired by the Central government adjacent to the disputed structure, the apex court bench said the status quo shall be maintained with regard to the rest of the land.
In the wake of the court's order, prayers at Ram Lala's make-shift temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya would be going on as usual.
The Lucknow bench of the high court had in September 2010, passed the verdict directing partition of the 2.77 acre on which the disputed structure once stood into three parts among Muslims, Hindus and Nirmohi Akhara.
"A new dimension was given by the high court as thedecree of partition was not sought by the parties. It was not prayed by anyone. It has to be stayed. Its a strange order," the bench said.
Expressing surprise over the high court's verdict, the bench observed, "How can a decree of partition be passed when none of the parties had prayed for it.
"Court has done something on its own. It's strange. Such kind of decrees cannot be allowed to be in operation," the bench said while staying the high court's verdict.