The State government on Wednesday submitted before the Madras High Court that it is still awaiting the report of the prison advisory board which considered a request for premature release of Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
When an appeal filed by Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy came up before a Division Bench comprising Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and N. Paul Vasanthakumar, Advocate-General P.S. Raman said the board’s report was yet to be received. He also reiterated that after receipt of the report, the government would decide only after taking the views of the Centre.
Dr. Swamy had challenged a single Judge’s order of September 2008 which said the prison advisory board had not been validly convened. The Judge had said Ms. Nalini’s case should be reconsidered by the board and the government should take a decision whether she should be given the benefit of premature release or not. He had quashed the proceedings of the board and the government orders concerned.
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Later, the Bench adjourned the case to February 19.