Lakshadweep M P Muhammed Faizal’s disqualification withdrawn, decision when SC to consider plea today

NEW DELHI: The disqualification of Lakshadweep M P Muhammed Faizal has been withdrawn. An urgent decision was taken by the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The decision was taken hours before the Supreme Court is scheduled to consider Faizal's plea today. A bench led by Justice K M Joseph is considering his plea. Former Lakshadweep MP Muhammad Faizal had approached the Supreme Court questioning the non-reinstatement of Lok Sabha membership after the Kerala High Court stayed the sentence.

The Lok Sabha Secretariat clarified that the earlier order has been temporarily frozen. Even two months after the high court verdict, the disqualification was not lifted. Meanwhile, Faizal filed a contempt of court plea against the Lok Sabha Secretary in the Supreme Court. Though the case was considered yesterday, the Supreme Court adjourned it to today for a detailed hearing. The plea filed by the Lakshadweep governing body was also scheduled to be considered today. Faizal's lawyer stated that the plea in the Supreme Court will be withdrawn as the Lok Sabha Secretariat has withdrawn the disqualification.

Faizal had pointed out that despite the Kerala High Court staying the case against him on January 25, the Lok Sabha Secretariat is not withdrawing the disqualification notification issued on January 13. Following the disqualification of Faizal, the Central Election Commission withdrew the decision of the by-election announced in Lakshadweep. The plea said two sessions of the Lok Sabha were lost due to the delay in the decision.

The Kavaratti District Sessions Court sentenced NCP leader Muhammad Faizal to ten years imprisonment in the case of trying to assassinate former union minister P M Sayeed's son-in-law and Congress worker Muhammad Salih during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, leading to the disqualification and cancellation of Lok Sabha membership. Muhammad Faizal is the Lakshadweep MP since 2014.