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LONDON, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- The British Supreme Court on Tuesday began a hearing of legal challenges to Prime Minister Boris Johnson's controversial decision to suspend the parliament for five weeks, which is unprecedented in the country.

The country's highest judicial body began hearing appeals from two separate challenges brought in England and Scotland to the prorogation of parliament in London on Tuesday morning.

As the hearing is under way, some 40 protesters, holding signs reading "Defend democracy", "Reopen Parliament," "They misled the Queen," gathered outside the top court before proceedings kicked off.

The 11 judges of the Supreme Court will give the final ruling on whether Johnson's decision to suspend the parliament for five weeks is illegal. The case could last three days.

"I think the best thing I could do is wait and see what the judges say," the prime minister said in an interview with the BBC, which was broadcast on Tuesday.

Johnson was accused of misleading the Queen, and using his power for improper purposes. But he denied lying to the monarch.

Johnson said that the prorogation is to allow his government to set out a new legislative agenda in a Queen's Speech when MPs return to the parliament on Oct. 14.

However, opponents said the prime minister's decision is to strip lawmakers of time to consider his plan to take out his country out of the European Union on Oct. 31, with deal or no deal.