SC turns down Centre's Ayodhya plea

Holding that there was a need to maintain communal harmony in the country, the Supreme Court on Monday turned down a Union government plea to lift a ban on religious activities on the 67 acre undisputed land around the disputed site in Ayodhya.

The court said the Union government's application required to be rejected "not only to maintain communal harmony but also to fulfil other obligations. We are of the view that the Supreme Court's March 13/14, 2002 order should be operative till the Allahabad high court disposes the [Ayodhya] title suits."

The Allahabad high court is hearing rival suits claiming ownership of the 2.77 acre disputed land in Ayodhya and has ordered excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India to determine whether a temple existed at the spot where the Babri Masjid stood before it was pulled by Hindu zealots in 1992.