If what Mr S Muralidhar, the EC counsel, said was an indication, then the commission would come out with the press release announcing the poll schedule within two to three days signalling commencement of the poll process and coming into force of the model code of conduct.

"The commission usually issues the press release at least three weeks before the proposed dates of election. The commission would issue the release within two to three days," he said.

He also said the elections would be conducted in three or four phases taking into account the number of holidays falling in the months of October and November.

The former MLAs -- Mr Rameshwar Prasad Chaurasia (BJP), Mr Kishore Kumar Munna (Independent), Mr Rampravesh Rai (JD-U) and Mr Anil Kumar (breakaway LJP), along with Mr Viplav Sharma and Ms Purnima Yadav had challenged the dissolution of the assembly, which was under suspended animation since March 7.

Mr Sharma and Ms Yadav's counsel, Mr P S Narasimha had contended that the commission should be restrained from announcing the poll dates as it would bar any interference in it by the apex court rendering the petitions challenging the Centre's decision to impose President's rule as infructuous.

The bench, before breaking for lunch, had wanted to know from the commission as to whether it could wait till September 6, when the Constitution bench would take up hearing of the matter.

While Mr Muralidhar said that on this issue the commission would go by what the apex court said, the additional solicitor-general, Mr Gopal Subramaniam said any such observation would amount to a stay.

Mr Subramaniam said any such order tantamount to a stay on the impending election process would hit at the root of the presidential proclamation which intended to put in place a popular government through fresh elections.

The court, when it reassembled in the afternoon, framed four questions on the scope and extent of the immunity from court proceedings enjoyed by the governors and referred it to a Constitution bench for hearing.

When the petitioners reiterated their plea for stay on the poll process, the bench said it was not going to pass any orders on this issue and they could raise the matter before the Constitution bench.