- New Delhi: 

The Supreme Court Friday stayed further proceedings in three FIRs lodged in West Bengal against some persons, including editors of a news web portal, regarding articles published by them.

The top court also issued notices to the West Bengal government and the Centre seeking their replies on a plea filed by Nupur J Sharma, the editor of English language Opindia.com, and others including its founder and CEO.

"Issue notice. Further proceedings in pursuance to the FIRs are stayed," a bench comprising Justices SK Kaul and BR Gavai said in its order.

The bench was hearing a petition filed by Sharma and others including the founder and CEO of news portal and editor of its Hindi language publications who have claimed that the West Bengal government and its "authoritarian Kolkata Police" is misusing FIRs and "brute police-powers" to intimidate journalists.

The petitioners were represented in the top court by senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani and lawyer Sandeep Kapur