The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Gujarat government from conducting narcoanalysis and brain mapping tests on alleged underworld don Santokben Sharmanbai Jadeja, also known as the 'Godmother.'

A bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and H S Bedi gave the stay order on a special petition filed by Santokben through her counsel Bina Madhavan [Images] that challenged the tests as being illegal, unconstitutional and violative of individual privacy.

The bench, while staying the tests, directed that the petition be listed along with similar petitions pending before a larger bench of the court challenging the constitutional and legal validity of such investigation methods.

Santokben's plea was earlier rejected by the Gujarat High Court following which she filed a petition in the apex court.

The petition said she was arrested by Junagadh police for various alleged criminal offences and claimed there was no statutory provision under which narcoanalysis or brain mapping tests could be conducted.

Santokben submitted that under the Constitution and the various penal codes, there was no provision under which an accused can be compelled to undergo such tests.

The petitioner cited guidelines framed by the National Human Rights Commission in 1993 which stipulated that such tests could be conducted only with the consent of the accused.