A bench of justices Altamas Kabir and J Chelameswar also issued notices to the Centre and the State on the plea, which sought quashing of all criminal proceedings against the two Italian Naval officers, Chief Sargeant Massimilano Lattore and Sargeant Salvatore Girone.
As senior counsel Harish Salve, appearing for the Italian government, pleaded for an interim stay, the apex court said it would have to hear the Union and the state governments before passing any orders and issued notice on the plea for stay. It posted the matter for August 6 for deciding it.
The bench also asked the Centre and the state to file their replies within three weeks on the Italian government's plea for quashing the criminal cases.
Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising, who appeared on behalf of the Centre, wanted that notices should be issued also to the widows of the fishermen but the court said it was not inclined to do so at this stage.
Jaising argued that since there were allegations that the consent of the fishermen's widows were obtained by "illegal means," it would not be proper if the court did not issue them notices.
"It is their husbands who have died," she submitted.
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The bench, however, was not convinced by her argument and refrained from issuing notices at present, saying that it may issue notices to the victims' families if and when their presence was required.
Fearing a pirate attack, the two officers on board 'Enrica Lexie,' had allegedly fired at the vessel off Kerala coast, killing the two fishermen. The marines, who were arrested by the Kerala police, are currently out on bail.