New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (June 4, 2004) stayed the process for the Rajya Sabha biennial and by-elections for 65 seats across the country, notification for which was issued today.

While making the Election Commission a party in a petition filed by former Rajya Sabha member Kuldeep Nayar challenging recent amendments to the Rajya Sabha election procedures, the Bench said no further step will be taken by the Commission for holding of the polls till June 14.

A Bench comprising Justice Ruma Pal and Justice BN Agrawal, while issuing notice to the Chief Election Commissioner said, "Meanwhile, if the notification regarding the poll is not already issued, then it shall not be published in the gazette and if it is published in the gazette it shall not be given effect to".