India's Supreme Court has deferred hearing a plea to lift a ban on religious activities at a disputed holy site at Ayodhya.
The central government is seeking to end the restrictions ahead of a planned ceremony by Hindu nationalists to begin construction of a Hindu temple there.
Ten years ago, Hindu extremists destroyed the ancient Babri mosque on the site, sparking communal riots in which about 2,000 people died.
Hindu hardliners say the mosque was built after demolishing a temple which marked the birthplace of the Hindu God Ram.
Court order
In March last year, the Supreme Court banned religious activity around the ruins of the mosque to avoid violence between Hindus and Muslims.
On Friday, the Supreme Court said it would place the matter before a wider bench of judges next month.
"We feel it is just and expedient if the application for early hearing is listed before a five-judge constitution bench on 6 March," the order said.
The government of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had pushed for an early hearing because of pressure from Hindu hardline groups that form its support base.
On Thursday Mr Vajpayee announced during campaigning for state elections that his government wanted to build a Hindu temple at Ayodhya.
"We are confident that it will be proved by historical evidence that there existed a temple [at the site]," he said.
Hardline pressure
The opposition and Muslim groups have criticised the government for seeking to bring forward the case.
The Muslims say that if the land around the ruins is handed over to the Hindu hardliners, they would begin building a temple and make it impossible for the Babri mosque to be rebuilt.
The hardline Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) has given the government until Saturday to hand over the 67 acres of land around the ruins.
Thousands of VHP members are expected in Delhi over the weekend to attend a three-day Dharam Sansad (religious council) to decide the group's next steps.
"We are in no mood to compromise on the issue of the land in Ayodhya and a strong decision may be taken if the Supreme Court ruling is not in our favour," VHP Working President, Ashok Singhal, said.
The VHP and other hardline Hindu groups have built private workshops in Ayodhya in which dozens of artisans have carved stone pillars to be used in the building of the Hindu temple.