Supreme Court on Monday deferred its hearing on the issue of legalisation and decriminalisation of gay sex among consenting adults in private.

A bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and H L Dattu adjourned the hearing on the matter by ten weeks.

A number of petitions have been filed by various political, social and religious organisations which opposed the Delhi High Court verdict decriminalising gay sex which was earlier a criminal offence punishable upto ten years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 377 of Indian Penal Code.

On February 7, the bench had refused to implead the armed forces in the case.

People and organisations from different fields have come out in support of or against the path-breaking verdict of the Delhi High Court which had sparked a controversy.

Several political, social and religious outfits have asked the Supreme Court to give the final verdict on the issue.

Senior BJP leader B P Singhal, who had opposed in the High Court legalisation of gay sex, has challenged the verdict in the Supreme Court saying such acts are illegal, immoral and against ethos of Indian culture.

Religious outfits like All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Utkal Christian Council and Apostolic Churches Alliance have opposed the High Court's verdict.

Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Right, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munn Kazhgam, astrologer Suresh Kumar Kaushal and yoga guru Ramdev have also opposed the verdict in the apex court.