Jaipur, Oct. 11 -- The Supreme Court on Friday ordered a status quo on possession of the Rajasthan police department's land in Amer, Jaipur, where training and other facilities are currently operating. Additional advocate general Shiv Mangal Sharma said the bench of justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih passed the interim order while hearing a petition filed by the state of Rajasthan challenging lower court directions that had ordered the police to vacate the premises in favour of private claimants. Appearing for the state, solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati and AAG Shiv Mangal Sharma argued that the land has been under continuous use and possession of the Rajasthan police since 1992. The counsels contended that the respondents' claims of ownership were based on "unverified photocopies of documents" obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) route, which cannot confer title or ownership over government property. Taking note of these submissions, the apex court directed a stay on all execution proceedings initiated to enforce the eviction, which had stemmed from a trial court decree-later upheld by the High Court-ordering the handover of the land to private parties. The Rajasthan police will retain possession until further orders of the top court. htc...