The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on petitions filed by a Christian body and a disciple of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev seeking stay of a Delhi High Court verdict legalising gay sex among consenting adults.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, posted the matter for further hearing on September 14 when it is likely to take up another bunch of similar petitions challenging the judgment.
The court asked the government to file its response on the matter by the next date of hearing.
The court's notice came on two petitions filed by Christian Apostolic Churches Alliance and S K Tijarawala, a disciple of Baba Ramdev.
The apex court had earlier on July 20 refused to stay the high court's judgment stating that it would wait for the government to come forward with its response on the issue.
It had earlier also issued notice to the Centre seeking its response on a similar petition filed by astrologer Suresh Kumar Kaushal challenging the high court judgment.
Notices were also issued to Naz Foundation, the NGO, and other respondents who were parties before the high court. Kaushal sought setting aside of the July two high court verdict legalising gay sex between consenting adults in private, which was earlier a criminal offence punishable with up to life imprisonment.
Image: A woman holds a sign during a parade for gays and lesbian rights
Photographs: Arko Datta/Reuters
