"It is a humane issue, we have to study various aspects and take a final view. The debate is on...," he toldreporters in response to a question.
He said, "The government has, to my knowledge, not formulated any final view, but it is now before the court, let us await what is going to happen..."
Asked about his personal view, he said, "I have no personal view, because as a minister people should not talk about personal view."
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice T S Thakur and Justices A R Dave and J S Khehar said that since important issues concerning the Constitution were involved in the matter, it would be appropriate to refer the issue to a five-judge Constitution bench.
The court said the larger bench would be constituted in the future.