The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday justified in the Supreme Court its decision to grant remission to seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, to pave the way for their release.
In its affidavit countering the Centre’s writ petition, which challenged the State government’s February 19 decision, counsel Yogesh Khanna said, “The appropriate government to consider the question of remission in the present case is the Tamil Nadu government.”
The apex court had stayed the release of the seven convicts and sought the State’s response. The matter comes up for further hearing on Thursday. The State said: “The letter of the Tamil Nadu government to the Union of India is only a proposal and part of the consultation process and it could raise objections to the proposal. The Union of India should have indicated its stand to the Tamil Nadu government.”
