Fresh elections in Jammu and Kashmir can take place any time and a decision on the issue has to be taken by the Election Commission, the Indian government told the Supreme Court today.

The government informed the matter to the SC while giving a road map for restoration of electoral democracy and complete statehood in the federally-run territory, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a five-judge bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud that the decision on the Jammu-Kashmir elections have to be taken by the Election Commission of India and the state poll panel.

Mehta told a bench that polls in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in three stages -- there will be panchayat polls, municipal polls and legislative assembly polls.

On August 29, the government had told the top court that the federal territory status of Jammu and Kashmir is not a "permanent thing."

The constitution bench is hearing the pleas, challenging the abrogation of Article 370 and on August 29 asked the government to spell out a specific time frame for restoration of electoral democracy in the erstwhile state.