India's Supreme Court yesterday stayed all proceedings before the Madan B Lokur Commission, appointed by the West Bengal government, to inquire into the Pegasus controversy despite the state promising to hold its hand when the apex court was seized of the issue and awaiting report from its technical expert panel headed by Justice RV Raveendran, a former SC judge.

A bench of CJI NV Ramana and justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli expressed strong reservations against the Lokur Commission proceeding ahead with inquiry despite an undertaking given by senior advocate AM Singhvi, appearing for the WB government, on August 25.

Singvi had mentioned in the undertaking that he will convey the apex court's reservations against the Commission going ahead with the inquiry.

Yesterday, the bench asked Singhvi - "What is this? You had given an undertaking that the Commission will not proceed during the pendency of the matter before us. Now the Commission is proceeding ahead."

Singhvi said, as a state government it could not interfere with the functioning of the Commission of Inquiry though he had conveyed the restraint that needed to be exercised, as desired by the Supreme Court. After the SC passed orders on October 27 (when it appointed a technical expert panel headed by Justice Raveendran), the Commission started its work, he said.

Appearing for petitioner NGO 'Global Village Foundation Charitable Trust', three senior advocates said that the Commission secretary should be made a party to the proceedings and the apex court should seek response from it.