NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today stayed till further order on the controversial decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly sentencing five senior journalists of The Hindu and the editor of Murasoli to 15 days' simple imprisonment for breach of privilege.

The 7 November decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, which evoked countrywide protests from journalists and political parties, was stayed by a bench. It comprised Justices Y K Sabharwal and S B Sinha. The decision was taken during preliminary hearing of two petitions filed by the aggrieved party, agency reports stated.

''There shall be a stay forthwith on the warrants of arrest issued pursuant to the decision of the State Assembly,'' Justice Sabharwal said. He also added that the stay order of the Court should be immediately communicated to the Tamil Nadu director general of police.

The Tamil Nadu speaker, while defending the decision, had said that articles written by The Hindu tantamounted to breach of privileges.