NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court judgment on the Ayodhya dispute forbidding any form of religious activity on the 67 acres of land has come as a boon to the Vajpayee government. It has served to save Vajpayee of much embarrassment at the hands of VHP fundamentalists.

He had been spared of taking an unpleasant decision which might well have alienated him from his own party, the BJP as well as his allies in the parliament.

Not surprisingly, the judgment had prompted all concerned players in the field to heave a sigh of relief.

Interestingly, legal eagles had predicted that the Supreme Court would be well within its bounds to have washed its hands clean of taking a decision, which had no point of law involved in it, and that it was entirely a matter for the government to take a decision on a matter which was politically sensitive.

However, the Supreme Court did not shy away from taking a stand, however, sensitive it might be.

As though reinforcing its resolve to prevent any violation of its order, the court further ruled out the plea of the Attorney General, Soli Sorabjee, who had pleaded with it to allow a token worship on the ‘undisputed’ land on strict conditionalities limiting the number of worshippers and also limiting its duration.

Categorically asserting that the status quo of the land should be maintained, the court said, “the 67 acres of land which is vested with the government, no religious activity of any kind whether it is symbolic or actual shall be permitted to take place.”

The judges also clarified that their present order was an interim order which will be interpreted by a larger bench.