Lucknow, Dec 06: The Special Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court hearing Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title suits today directed that the artefacts and antiquities found during the recent excavation at the disputed site in Ayodhya be checked periodically to prevent any decay or damage. The bench comprising Justice S R Alam, Justice Bhanwar Singh and Justice Khemkaran passed the order on the applications by the contesting parties seeking directions to concerned authorities in this regard.

The court directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) team, authorised persons and the observers to check up all the artefacts and antiquities found during the excavation at an interval of three months each in the presence of counsels and take all necessary steps to prevent any decay or damage to them.

The court also directed that one set of the CDs pertaining to the excavation work at the disputed site be provided to the state government on payment of necessary charges.

The court's order came on an application moved by the state government counsel in this regard.