New Delhi: An Ordinance to protect convicted MPs and MLAs from facing immediate disqualification was approved today by the Union Cabinet, in effect negating an order of the Supreme Court.
Government decided to bring the Ordinance after failing to get a Bill to this effect passed in Parliament during the recent Monsoon Session, sources said.
The government decision to take the Ordinance route came against the backdrop of a Congress MP Rashid Masood facing the prospect of disqualification as he was recently convicted in a case of corruption and other offences.
The Supreme Court on July 10 had ruled that an MP or an MLA would stand disqualified immediately if convicted by a court for crimes with punishment of two years or more.
