The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the new law that provides for appointment of the chief election commissioner and election commissioners by a panel excluding the Chief Justice of India. The bench, however, agreed to examine a batch of petitions challenging new law and issued notice to Centre.

The bench asked senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Congress leader Jaya Thakur, who sought a stay on the new law, to serve a copy of the petition to the Centre’s counsel. “Please stay this law. This is against the separation of powers,” Singh said.