India, April 12 -- The Bombay High Court has stayed the charity commissioner's order that halted the Asiatic Society of Mumbai's elections a day before they were to be held, observing that the decision appeared to violate principles of natural justice.

The elections were scheduled for March 14, but were stopped on March 13 through an order that also appointed a committee to oversee the society's day-to-day affairs and prepare a fresh voters' list. The order stated that a new election schedule would be announced only after finalising the list of eligible voters.

The move was challenged by presidential candidate and senior journalist Kumar Ketkar along with other petitioners. Hearing the matter, a single bench of justice Farhan Dubash not...