SC to hear Lakshadweep’s plea challenging Kerala HC’s stay on conviction of MP Faizal

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By Kanu Sarda: Days after the Kerala High Court stayed the conviction and sentencing of Member of Parliament Mohammed Faizal in an attempt to murder case, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep on Monday approached the Supreme Court challenging the same.

During an urgent mention, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that this case needs urgent hearing.

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To this, the bench said it would hear the case next Monday. Urging for an early date, SG Mehta asked if the case could be taken up on Friday.

However, the CJI remarked: “What will change between Friday and Monday, let's follow the system of listing we have”.

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On January 25, the Kerala High Court had suspended Faizal's conviction, because of which his disqualification as an MP was also stayed.During the hearing last week before a bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna, the Election Commission of India had said it would act as per the High Court's order of suspending the conviction.

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The court was hearing a plea filed by Faizal, challenging the Election Commission announcement to hold bye-elections in his constituency after his disqualification.

Faizal and the other accused were convicted by the sessions court for attempting to murder Padanath Salih, the son-in-law of former Union Minister and Congress leader, PM Sayeed, in connection with a political controversy during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

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