Today, the Supreme Court set aside orders of the Kerala High Court, suspending conviction of Lakshadweep Lok Sabha MP Mohammed Faizal in an attempt to murder case and remanded the matter back to the high court for fresh adjudication in six weeks.

However, a division bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, give protection to Faizal from any possibility of disqualification, saying the protection of the earlier order will remain in force for six weeks.

''The High Court approach was “erroneous” in suspending the conviction and sentence of the Lok Sabha MP in the case'' said the Supreme Court.

Case Brief -

In the starting of the year, the Court sentenced Faizal and three others to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 1 lakh each by a sessions court in Kavaratti in Lakshadweep for attempting to kill Mohammed Salih, in 2009 Election.

Faizal approaches the Kerala High Court challenging the order and the HC suspended his conviction and sentence on January 25.

In its order, the high court said it was suspending the conviction and sentence of the NCP leader pending disposal of his appeal against the trial court order. It said not doing so will result in fresh elections for the seat vacated by him which will impose a financial burden on the government and the public.

The Lakshadweep administration moved the Supreme Court against the high court's order, and on January 30, the top court agreed to hear its petition.

On March 29, the top court had disposed of Faizal's separate plea against his disqualification as a Member of Parliament in view of the Lok Sabha secretariat's notification restoring his membership following the high court order.