Maintain status quo on Ayodhya site: Allahabad HC

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Thursday extended its order for maintaining status quo at the disputed Ramjanmbhoomi-Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya till August 31.

The earlier status quo order was set to expire on May 31.

While a special appeal against the high court verdict on the issue is pending before the Supreme Court, an application was moved by the Faizabad commissioner, seeking an extension of the status quo before the special high court bench.

The bench had given its judgment on the Ayodhya title suit on September 30 last year.

The special bench now comprises Justices S U Khan, Sudhir Agrawal and V K Dikshit, who joined after Justice D V Sharma retired from service shortly after delivering the verdict.

The bench allowed the commissioner, who is the designated authority in the case, to undertake bare necessary repairs in the makeshift temple where the deity of Lord Ram was installed after the 16th century mosque was pulled down on December 6, 1992.

The repairs involve replacement of the tarpaulin under which the makeshift temple exists.