The Centre, which acquired 67 acres of land in 1993 in Ayodhya after the demolition of the Babri Masjid, is likely to argue on Thursday before the Supreme Court that the undisputed part of that land be handed back to its "rightful owners" after making provision for access to the disputed area.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice S Rajendra Babu would commence hearing on Thursday a bunch of petitions on the issue and an application filed by the Centre seeking vacation of the apex court's order banning any religious activity on the undisputed land.

"The Union government is likely to refer to the earlier judgements of the apex court which had directed maintenance of status quo in the disputed area of five acres," Union Law Ministry sources told PTI a

day ahead of the crucial hearing in the Supreme Court.

"On the 67 acres of undisputed land, the Supreme Court had said it was desirable that the government should handover the same to the rightful owners once it decided the area of the land required to give access to the disputed site," they said.

It was for the government to decide how much of the 67 acres of land would be required for providing access to the disputed part of the land, the sources added.

The dispute on the title over the disputed land is pending before the Allahabad high court.