New Delhi, Aug 18 - The Supreme Court Monday sought the central government's stand on decriminalising of gay sex between consenting adults after a set of two fresh lawsuits challenged the Delhi High Court's verdict.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice P. Sathasivam issued a notice to the central government on lawsuits filed by Christian Apostolic Churches Alliance and yoga guru Baba Ramdev's disciple S.K. Tijarawala.

The bench, however, turned down the petitioners' plea to suspend the high court verdict till a final order of the apex court on the issue.

The bench deferred the matter for further hearing Sep 14, when it would take up all similar petitions for the hearing. The bench asked the government to file its response on the matter by then.

The apex court had earlier July 20 refused to suspend the high court's verdict, stating that it would wait for the government's formal response on the issue.

Notices were also issued to Naz Foundation, the NGO, and other respondents who had earlier filed the case before the high court.