Panchayat elections in Haryana have been postponed till the Supreme Court decides the validity of a law that sets mandatory educational qualifications and other criteria for candidates.

Appearing for the Haryana government today , Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told a Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice J Chelameswar that the elections could not be held with uncertainty looming large over the qualifications issue.

He said that it would be better if the elections are held with clear cut norms approved by the apex court.

Haryana state election commission too has told court that it cannot hold polls till court decides the validity of the law.

After hearing the stand of the government Supreme Court acknowledged that the present poll schedule had become irrelevant.

On Monday, the court had asked Haryana Government to either conduct the elections as per old provisions of the law or postpone it for four weeks.

Panchayat elections in Haryana were scheduled to be held in three phases on October 4, 11 and 18 this year.

The Supreme Court will take up the case for final hearing on October

The development has taken place in the wake of a petition by some of the aspirants affected by the fresh norms for contesting the Panchayat Election.

The SC has stayed implementation of the new norms for the current elections on September 17 and on Monday.