The court ordered jail authorities to take Kasab for Ossification test and dental examination to determine his age. On a query by reporters, prosecutor Nikam refused to disclose the place where the tests would be done.

The court also did not mention where such tests would be held. The radiologist and the dentist, who will conduct the tests, have been asked to submit a report on or before April 28.

Kasab will be taken for scientific tests under heavy security because there was a threat to his life. The court ordered the inquiry after prosecutor Nikam moved an application urging that the age of the accused may be determined before the charges are framed against him.

He said, "We believe in a fair trial and a message should go around that India was just not a banana country but the one that encouraged complete transparency in the legal system."

Earlier, Kasab had pleaded that he was juvenile and that the case should be transferred to Juvenile court. The court rejected his plea, saying he did not appear to be a juvenile but if it felt any time during the trial that an inquiry should be held to determine his age, it would do so.