New Delhi: Dubbing as “strange” the Allahabad High Court’s verdict of three-way division of the disputed Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed its operation saying none of the parties had demanded partition of the land.
“A new dimension was given by the High Court as the decree of partition was not sought by the parties. It was not prayed by anyone. It has to be stayed. It’s a strange order,” a Bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice R M Lodha observed while staying the September 30 order of the High Court.
It expressed surprise over how the High Court could pass such an order when it was not prayed by anyone.
“It is a difficult situation now. The position is that it (the high court verdict) has created litany of litigation,” the bench observed.
While ordering status quo at the site, which means that prayers at Ram Lala’s make-shift temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya would be going on as usual, the Court restrained any kind of religious activity on the adjacent 67 acre land, which had been taken over by the Centre.
All the parties to the suit expressed satisfaction over the Supreme Court order. (PTI)