In a major relief to former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the trial in a disproportionate assets case against him and his son.
 
A bench comprising Justice N Santosh Hegde and Justice P P Naolekar issued notices to the state government and Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Opposing the order, Advocate V R Manohar, who appeared for the Punjab government, cited provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, which restrain courts from staying trials under the Act.
 
He said the trial against Punjab minister Rajinder Kaur Bhattal was suspended as proper sanction for her prosecution had not been obtained. "In the case against Badal, sanction had been obtained from the speaker of the assembly," he said.

The court, however, said the two cases raised similar questions.

The petitioners had challenged the September 2 order of the Punjab and Haryana high court dismissing their plea questioning the jurisdiction of a trial court to try the case.