New Delhi, Mar 15 : The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the new law that provides for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commissioners by a panel excluding the Chief Justice of India.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta also refused to stay the appointment of two new Election Commissioners.

The Bench, however, agreed to examine a batch of petitions challenging the new law and issued notice to the Centre.

The Bench clarified, “We don’t stay a legislative Act by an interim order. It said we cannot pass any order without hearing the other side.

Several petitions have been filed in the Apex Court amidst a political row over dropping the Chief Justice of India (CJI) from a panel empowered to choose the Chief Election commissioner (CEC) and Election Commissioners (ECs).

UNI