The Supreme Court on Monday refused to adjourn tomorrow’s proposed hearing by a five-judge Constitution bench on a batch of petitions challenging its verdict that had re-criminalised consensual carnal sex between two adults.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra refused to defer the hearing after the Centre sought more time to file its response on PILs on gay sex.

The newly re-constituted five-judge constitution bench is scheduled to commence hearing of four crucial matters, including the issue of sexual relationship between persons of same sex, from Tuesday.

The Supreme Court had in 2013 restored sexual relationship between persons of same sex as a criminal offence.