The Supreme Court on Monday made it clear that status quo ordered on 67 acre land adjacent to the disputed site in Ayodhya should not be disturbed while carrying out excavation activity in the vicinity.

"We are hopeful that this status quo will continue. While doing the excavation this status quo should not be disturbed," a bench comprising Justice Aftab Alam and Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai said.

The remarks were made by the bench during the hearing of issues relating to a permission seeking to change the tarpaulin and ropes at Lord Rama's make-shift temple at the disputed site and to relieve two judicial officers appointed at the direction of the Allahabad HC since 2003 to visit the place fortnightly for keeping it updated about the situation there in Ayodhya.