The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Calcutta high court order asking the West Bengal State Election Commission to accept nomination papers filed through e-mail for contesting the panchayat elections in the state. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra took note of the fact that almost 17,000 candidates have won the panchayat polls unopposed and directed the state poll panel not to declare them as winners. The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, asked the state poll panel to ensure “free and fair” panchayat elections on May 14 in the state.