 "Cabinet clears ordinance to protect convicted lawmakers")
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday cleared an ordinance reversing the Supreme Court verdict to disqualify convicted MPs and MLAs.
The ordinance will allow convicted MPs/MLAs to continue in office, if the appeal against the conviction is admitted by a higher court within 90 days.
However, the MPs/MLAs will not draw salaries and vote pending the appeal.
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Barring the Communist Party of India (CPI) and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), all other political parties are on board of the ordinance.
The verdict in fodder scam case is likely by 30th September. RJD chief Lalu Prasad is one of the accused in the case. If he is convicted, it will not come in the way of him contesting election.
The quantum of punishment on the conviction of the Congress MP Rashid Masood in a 23-year-old medical seat scam is also expected to be out on October 1. He will also get a reprieve.
In July, the Supreme Court struck down a provision in the electoral law that protects a convicted lawmaker from disqualification if his or her appeal is pending in a higher court.
The apex court, however, said that its decision would not apply to convicted members of Parliament and legislative assemblies who have filed their appeals in the higher courts before the pronouncement of this verdict.
Details are awaited.