New Delhi, May 12 : The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the promotion of Gujarat judge Harish Hasmukhbhai Verma, who convicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case, and 67 other Gujarat lower judicial officers.

A bench comprising Justices M.R. Shah and C.T. Ravikumar said the list issued by the high court and the subsequent order issued by the state government granting promotion to district judges were illegal and contrary to the decision of this court.