The high court had partly scrapped the penal provisions against homosexuality framed during the British Raj.

'The GoM (group of ministers) report is restricted to the cabinet,' the minister maintained.

The home ministry, she said, would be issuing a statement on the issue. This, however, did not happen.

The question was to have been discussed at a cabinet meeting Sep 10 but was not taken up as Home Minister P. hidambaram was then away on a visit to the US.

The high court decision has been challenged in the Supreme Court, which had July 9 sought the respective stands of the central and the Delhi governments.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan issued notices to the two governments, besides seven others, on a lawsuit filed by Delhi-based astrologer-cum-advocate Suresh Kaushal and sought the respondents' replies by July 20.

At the July 20 hearing, Vahanvati said: 'There are three ministries involved in the matter. We need some more time to formulate our view.'

'We don't exactly want a stay,' Vahanvati added.

Defined as unnatural sex, under section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, homosexuality was punishable with imprisonment up to life.