Kasab appeared before Special Judge M L Tahiliyani via video conferencing from the Arthur Road Jail where he is presently lodged in a high security cell. Dressed in a grey T-shirt, a bearded Kasab, when asked by the court if he wanted a lawyer for the trial, said, "If there will be a trial then I will need a lawyer."

Asked by the judge if he had any preference, he said, "Could you just call the lawyer, who appeared on my behalf on November 27?"

The court informed him that he had no lawyer representing him during his first and only court appearance and asked him if he is agreeable to a government-appointed lawyer. "Theek hai (all right)," Kasab replied, speaking in Hindi during the court appearance.

Judge Tahiliyani said he will inform jail authorities of his next court appearance and it will be conveyed to him. After thanking the judge, Kasab was taken back to his cell.

Earlier, Kasab told the court that he was a resident of Faridkot in the Pakistan's Punjab and had received a copy of the chargesheet. Asked if he had a lawyer, Kasab said, "As of now I don't have one."

Asked by the judge if he knew him (Judge Tahiliyani), Kasab replied in English, "I don't."

Subsequently, Judge Tahiliyani told him, "I am the judge, who will conduct the trial in your case." Hearing this Kasab smiled and replied, "Namaste".

The media, for the first time, was permitted to be present during the video conferencing with Kasab in the sessions court complex in south Mumbai.

The court will give its order on the prosecution's plea to postpone the trial to April 13 later in the day.

The prosecution had sought the trial be postponed in order to ready the special high security court in Arthur Road Jail.