A public interest litigation filed in Bombay High Court today has sought Centre's intervention in the case before a Russian court, where a ban on Bhagvad Gita has been demanded.

Petitioners, Vijay Dave, an IIT alumnus, and Rasendu Nanavati, have quoted newspaper reports that the applicants before the court at Tomsk in Russia have sought ban on Gita, dubbing it as a literature spreading social discord.

Petitioners' lawyers, advocates M I Sethna and Advait Sethna, argued that Gita is a sacred text, and attempts to ban it would have far-reaching implications not only in India but also internationally.

Lawyers contended that the Indian government had not made its stand clear, particularly when the case has been going on since June. Some assurance should be given by the government that steps had been taken, and India's stand should be properly represented as a ban would set a precedent in less secular countries.

PIL argus that the subject concerned not just the Indians in Russia, but had world-wide significance. Any failure on Indian government's part to intervene, supported by in-depth research, scholastic views and analysis, would cause irretrievable damage to our rich culture and heritage, the petition contends.

The bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Roshan Dalvi adjourned the hearing on PIL till December 21.

Meanwhile, following an uproar in the Parliament, the government today said that External Affairs Minister S M Krishna would make a statement on the issue tomorrow.

The court at Tomsk has suspended its ruling in the case against Gita till December 28.