The ordinance aims to allow lawmakers to stay on even after they are convicted, without a salary or voting rights.

An Ordinance to protect convicted MPs and MLAs from facing immediate disqualification was approved today by the Cabinet.The ordinance negates an order of the Supreme Court saying the elected members would stand disqualified immediately if convicted by a court for crimes with punishment of two years or more.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.To negate the July 10 Supreme Court order, the government moved to amend the law and brought the Representation of the People (Second Amendment) Bill, 2013 in Rajya Sabha during the last session.

However, the bill could not be passed. Once the quantum of punishment is pronounced by a CBI court next month, Masood faces the prospects of losing his membership of Rajya Sabha as per the apex court order.