A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court on Friday gave a split verdict on the maintainability of government's application seeking recall of the apex court order on constitution of an SIT to probe black money cases.

The order was passed by a bench comprising justices Altamas Kabir and S S Nijjar on the Centre's plea for recall of the court's July 4 decision.

While justice Kabir pronounced his verdict in favour of the government, saying the Centre's plea was maintainable; Justice Nijjar refused to hear the application, saying it is not maintainable.

In view of the split verdict, the bench referred the matter to the Chief Justice for constitution of a larger bench to decide the maintainability of the Centre's plea.