File photo: VCG

NEW DELHI, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India decided on Saturday to give a disputed land in northern state of Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya district to the Hindus represented by the "Janambhoomi Nyas."

The Muslims, represented by the "Sunni Waqf Board," would get a piece of land measuring 5 acres at some other place within Ayodhya, said the apex court's verdict.

The verdict assumes significance in India's religious and political setup, even as it would pave the way for construction of a temple dedicated to Lord Ram at Ayodhya, which the Hindus believe is the deity's birth place.

Both the Muslims and the Hindus were fighting the legal case since 1950, putting forth their respective claims that the disputed land measuring 2.77 acres belonged to them.

While the Muslims side claimed that there existed an age-old Babri Masjid mosque which was demolished in 1992, the Hindus maintained that prior to the mosque there existed a temple dedicated to Lord Ram at the same site.

Security has been heightened in many Indian states and cities especially in Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, Mumbai, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to appealed for calm and urged everyone to respect the verdict.

"Whatever the verdict ... it won't be anybody's win or loss," Modi tweeted. "My appeal to the people of India is that our priority is to ensure the verdict strengthens the values of peace, equality and goodwill of our country."