TN backs Rajiv convicts’ early release plea

Contending that the governor is bound by its recommendation to allow premature release of life-term convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, the Tamil Nadu government supported the plea of convicts S Nalini and R P Ravichandran in Supreme Court for release from jail. Armed with apex court’s verdict granting the same relief to co-accused A G Perarivalan, the petitioners had first approached the Madras high court which refused their plea, leading them to approach the Supreme Court. Invoking its extraordinary power granted under Article 142 of the Constitution to do complete justice, the SC had granted relief to Perarivalan and had said that the governor’s decision to send the plea to the President was wrong and it has no constitutional backing.