India, June 15 -- The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a June 4 Himachal Pradesh high court order depriving members of the legislative assembly (MLAs) from voting as "ex officio members" in the election of presidents and vice presidents of municipal corporations and nagar panchayats.

The state government appealed against the order, arguing it came in petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Himachal Pradesh Municipal Act, 1994, which are still pending consideration. It said the order deprived MLAs of exercising their right to vote in the middle of the election process.

"What the Act does not provide, how can the court provide by a judicial order?" asked a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice V Mohana, dis...