Calling it a strange and surprising order, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Allahabad High Court’s verdict on the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmbhoomi disputed site by which it had directed the site be divided equally between the three contending parties.

The apex court bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice R.M. Lodha Monday said that by directing the partition of the disputed site, the high court has given an entirely new dimension to the case. It is a rare judgement whose operation has to be stayed,’ the court said.

‘It was a strange and surprising order that was not prayed for by any of the parties and cannot be allowed to remain,’ it said.

While admitting the appeals by all the parties, the court said that ‘status quo as a disputed site will remain as directed by the constitution bench of the apex court by its verdict of Jan 7 1993 and that of March 13-14, 2002’.