New Delhi, Jan 14 (Agencies): In a setback to actor Salman Khan, the Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the Rajasthan High Court's stay order on his conviction in blackbuck hunting case. 

The top court judgment was made on the plea by Rajasthan government that challenged the suspention of Salman Khan's conviction.  However, the actor is free to appeal the verdict in HC. 

An apex court bench headed by Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay, sending back the matter to the high court for fresh consideration, said the filmstar could tell the court that he would suffer irreversible damage if his conviction is not stayed and he is eventually acquitted.

The court said that the Rajasthan government at the same time could argue that no irreversible damage which cannot be undone would be caused if his conviction is not stayed.

Meanwhile, the latest development will not have any impact on the high court's stay on Salman's sentence.

However, as a consequence of the apex court's order, Salman will not be able to travel to the United Kingdom as it is highly difficult for a person, who have been convicted in a case, to obtain a visa from  British Embassy.  This was the ground for Salman to approach the court to stay his conviction.

A Bench comprising Justices S J Mukhopadhyay and A K Goel had on November 5 last year reserved is judgement after raising question on the Rajasthan High Court decision staying the mega star's conviction without going into the merits of the case and just to pave the way for him to get the visa to travel to the United Kingdom for professional purposes.

To which, Salman responded saying he would have faced hardship if his conviction would not have been stayed by the high court as it adversely affected his right to travel abroad.

The state government had approached the apex court against the High Court order which had, on November 12, 2013 stayed his 2006 conviction in the case and paved the way for him to get a British visa.

During the hearing, the court, however, had agreed that age was one of the important factors in life of an actor and it would be harsh if one is not allowed to go abroad till final verdict comes.

Under British immigration rules, any person convicted for more than four years is not eligible for a visa. Since the actor was convicted for five years, he was denied visa by the British Embassy.

The passports of Indian convicts are stamped with the word "convict." Black buck is a protected animal and its hunting is a punishable offence