The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the landmark judgement that accorded the Ganga and Yamuna rivers the status of "living human entities", reports Times of India.

On March 20, this year, the Uttarakhand HC accorded the status of "living human entities" to the two rivers. This was to enable the "preservation and conservation of the two rivers and to protect the recognition and faith of society".

Following which the Uttarakhand government moved to the apex Court challenging the state high court order.

"Let me be very clear that we are not against according of living entity status to the two holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna," Uttarakhand minister Madan Kaushik had said in May.

He was unhappy though with the ambiguity regarding the accountability of damage done to these rivers.