India, Jan. 9 -- The Bombay High Court on Thursday stayed the election for the seat of councillor from 17A ward of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), after the Returning Officer rejected the nominations of a BJP candidate Nilesh Chhaburao Bhojane over allegations of illegal construction at his residence.

Holding that Bhojane's rejection of Bhojane's nomination was apparently illegal, a division bench of chief justice Shree Chandrashekhar and justice Gautam Ankhad directed the State Election Commission (SEC) and the NMMC "not to proceed further as regards the election on the seat of Councillor for Ward no. 17A of the NMMC", and posted the matter for hearing on Friday.

The judges accepted the argument advanced on behalf of Bhoj...