The Supreme Court will hear at least a dozen petitions filed by a various individuals and organisations, including BP Singhal, a senior leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who is challenging the 2009 decision of the Delhi High Court that decriminalised sexual relations between gay men saying that such acts are illegal, immoral and against the ethos of Indian culture. 

The Delhi High Court had on July 2, 2009, declared the penal provision, Section 377 of Indian Penal Code, as unconstitutional in case of gay sex among consenting adults in private.

Other religious bodies including the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Utkal Christian Council and Apostolic Churches Alliance have also opposed the High Court's verdict.

On Monday, the Supreme Court also refused to entertain an application brought by astrologer Suresh Kumar Koushal who submitted that the defence forces should be made a party to the matter in view of the fact that they have always opposed decriminalisation of homosexual behaviour.

The court said it would allow all other parties who have approached the court to present their case and fixed the matter for further hearing on April 19.