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The Centre has postponed taking a decision on the suggestion made by a three-member ministerial group regarding the Delhi high court judgment to decriminalise gay sex.
"The home minister was not present so it was not discussed," said Information & Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, when asked if the cabinet had discussed the ministerial team's report, which is believed to have recommended the Centre not to contest the high court judgment.
Asked how the government proposed to go ahead in the matter that is coming up for hearing before the Supreme Court on Monday, Soni merely said, "The law ministry will look into it."
The cabinet note has reportedly said that the three ministries -- home, health and law -- have agreed to the document circulated by the law ministry suggesting that the judgment should not be opposed in the Supreme Court.
The matter would be left to the apex court to decide, as it was hearing several petitions including those by religious groups.
Before finalising the note for the Union cabinet, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily had held series of meetings to arrive at a conclusion on the issue.
The Supreme Court had on August 17 sought a response from the Centre on the petitions filed by a Christian body and a disciple of Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, seeking a stay on the Delhi high court verdict legalising gay sex on the grounds it would have a catastrophic effect on society's moral fabric.