ORDER.

I.A. Nos. 7, 14, 15 and 16 of 1993

1. By these applications the applicants seek certain directions from the Court to the Government of India and the authorised persons to make proper arrangements for preserving and conserving the archaeological objects in the possession of the authorities related to the disputed structure and further to direct the authorities to carry out certain scientific tests to determine their age and other incidents said to be relevant to controversy in the Reference.

2. Having regard to the present stage of the proceedings and the yet undecided preliminary issue as to the very maintainability of the reference itself, it appears to us appropriate that while we grant the first prayer as to preservation of the objects, however, the consideration of the second prayer should be deferred till an appropriate later stage.

3. Accordingly, these interlocutory applications are disposed of with a direction to the Union Government, the State of Uttar Pradesh and authorised persons to make proper arrangements for preserving and conserving the archaeological objects in their possession, allegedly relating to the disputed structure, in an appropriate manner. The preserva