Varanasi: The Gyanvapi masjid case hearing has been deferred to October 11.
The district court in Varanasi on Friday scheduled it for next Tuesday.
The court was expected to issue its verdict on the plea filed by the Hindu side demanding carbon dating of the structure found inside the Gyanvapi Mosque's wuzu khana which the petitioners claimed was a Shivling. It was found in the ablution pond of the mosque during a survey.
A heavy police force was deployed outside the premises of the court ahead of the crucial hearing.
Four women petitioners in the Gyanvapi mosque-Shrinagar Gauri case had sought scientific investigation and carbon dating to ascertain the nature and age of the Shivling.
The court had reserved the order in the case on September 29 after hearing both sides' arguments.
The Muslim side in the Gyanvapi mosque-Shringar Gauri complex case had filed an objection in the court against the Hindu plaintiffs' plea for the carbon dating of the 'Shivling'.
Carbon dating is a scientific process that ascertains the age of an archaeological object or archaeological finds. Such a test was demanded by the Hindu side on September 22 along with other scientific tests of the Shivling-like structure.
This was opposed not only by the Muslim side's Anjuman Inazaniya Masajid Committee, but also by plaintiff number one, Rakhi Singh of the Hindu side.
The lawyers had lodged an objection in court saying that carbon dating would damage the structure.
The court is expected to issue the order on the petition on October 11.
(IANS feed with minor edits)