Shimla, Aug 27 - It was a last minute reprieve for the four-decade-old Tibetan market here that was to be demolished Thursday with civic authorities deferring the move on the directions of the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court Wednesday stayed the Himachal Pradesh High Court order of June this year to shift the 103 kiosk owners from the market under the historic Ridge area. The directive was received Wednesday evening, just in time to stop the demolition that was due to begin Thursday.

'On the directions of the Supreme Court Wednesday, we have decided to defer the demolition of 103 makeshift kiosks in the Tibetan market,' Assistant Municipal Commissioner K.K. Sharma told IANS.

He said alternative sites had been identified and the shopkeepers had been asked to shift there by Aug 26.

But the shopkeepers were not convinced.

'The Supreme Court order is a great relief for us as the civic administration was hell-bent on relocating us without allotting appropriate site. The high court has clearly directed the administration to first find an appropriate place and then ask shopkeepers to shift,' said Ngawang, a shopkeeper.

He added that the site chosen for their relocation was far from the business hub and that they had not been consulted before the decision was taken.

On Wednesday, the apex court took up a special leave petition (SLP) challenging the high court order and stayed proceedings for evicting the kiosk owners from the market.