New Delhi, Aug 17 : The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre on petitions seeking stay of a Delhi High Court verdict legalising gay sex.

Two petitions were filed Christian Apostolic Churches Alliance and S K Tijarawala, a disciple of Baba Ramdev.

The matter, which was heard by a bench, headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, will now come up for hearing on September 14.

The apex court asked the government to file its reply.

On July 20, the apex court had refused to stay the High Court''s judgement stating that it would wait for the Government to come forward with its response on the issue.

The apex court had asked the Central Government to file its response within eight weeks on the verdict of the Delhi High Court to decriminalise the homosexual behaviour of consensual adults, which was a crime as per Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Astrologer Manoj Kumar Kaushal, the apex court had refused to give stay to the Delhi High Court''s verdict.

On July 2, a two Judge bench of the Delhi High Court gave ruling to decriminalise the homosexual behaviour.

NAZ Foundation, and other NGOs had filed a petition questioning the criminalisation of homosexual behaviour under Sec 377 of IPC.

But the Centre told the court that there id no change in its stand taken before the Delhi High Court, but to consolidate the opinions of the various departments it need some time.

Attorney General, G. E. Vahanavati said the Government has not filed any affidavit as yet.

Meanwhile, the Union Government has remained non-committal about its stand on the High Court verdict which has been opposed by different sections of society, including religious leaders of all communities and a child rights body, gay rights activists have drawn up a detailed strategy to defend the verdict. (ANI)