New Delhi, Aug 2 - The Delhi High Court verdict de-criminalising gay sex between consenting adults has been highly acclaimed by union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily as a 'well-documented and well-researched' ruling on a difficult subject that stands out 'in the judicial annals of the country'.

Moily has indicated that if the apex court upholds the high court ruling, then the government may suitably amend the relevant penal provisions under section 377 of the Indian Penal Code to make it a law.

'One thing must go to the credit of the Delhi High Court judgement -- it is well-documented, well-researched. I must tell the judges -- the subject may be difficult, but at the same time this is one judgement which has really stood out in the judicial annals of this country,' Moily told journalist Karan Thapar in CNN-IBN's 'Devil's Advocate' programme, to be aired Sunday 8.30 p.m.

The Supreme Court is adjudicating a bunch of lawsuits challenging the high court's July 2 ruling.

Asked if the government would take any step to change the law and reverse the judgement, Moily said: 'There are occasions and occasions where the government will not seek to reverse a judgement.'

Endorsing the legality of the judgement, the minister said that the verdict settles an important question of law on liberty and privacy and it would have been 'preposterous' for the government to seek its suspension when it came up for hearing in the apex court July 21.

'It is an important question of law -- particularly relating to the constitutional provision of liberty, privacy -- they have given a judgement.