The Lok Sabha Secretariat reinstated Lakshadweep Member of Parliament (MP) Mohammed Faizal PP to the parliament on Wednesday, following the suspension of his conviction in an attempt to murder case by the Kerala High Court.
Surprisingly, the Lok Sabha Secretariat’s decision came just moments before a hearing in the Supreme Court on Faizal’s request that his membership be reinstate despite the suspension of his conviction.
The Kerala High Court suspended the MP’s conviction and sentence in the case on January 25 according to the notification released by the Secretariat on Wednesday.
Therefore, his expulsion from the Lok Sabha pursuant to Section 8 of the Representation of the People Act and Article 102(1)(e) of the Indian Constitution no longer applies.
Four people, including Faizal, were found guilty by the Kavaratti Sessions Court on January 11 for attempting to murder Padanath Salih, the son-in-law of former Union Minister and INC leader PM Sayeed.
All four of the convicted individuals received 10-year sentences of solitary confinement because the incident was connected to a political controversy that occurred during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
The following day, on January 12, the convicts applied for bail while their appeal was pending and filed an appeal in the Kerala High Court. Their conviction and sentence were suspended by the Kerala High Court on January 25. This prompted an appeal for reinstatement before the Supreme Court.
Faizal was barred from holding the position of Member of Parliament after the trial court found him guilty, and the Lok Sabha Secretariat also issued a notification to that effect.
The Election Commission (EC) then informed his constituency of bye-elections.
Faizal, however, then filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the EC’s announcement to hold bye-elections.
On January 27, the Supreme Court dismissed that plea after receiving assurances from the EC that it would follow the Kerala High Court’s order suspending the conviction.
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