On September 9, Tamil Nadu cabinet has sought the release of the seven convicts citing Article 161 of the Constitution, which empowers the governor to grant pardon and to suspend, remit or commute the sentence in certain cases.
Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Saturday denied media reports that he had forwarded to the Centre the state government's recommendation to release all the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
However, Governor's office said in the statement that necessary consultation "may be carried out, when required, in due course. The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner and in accordance with the Constitution."
On September 9, Tamil Nadu cabinet has sought the release of the seven convicts citing Article 161 of the Constitution, which empowers the governor to grant pardon and to suspend, remit or commute the sentence in certain cases.
"A section of the media has been reporting that in the matter of the release of the convicted prisoners undergoing life imprisonment for involvement in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, a reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Some television channels have been conducting debates on this assumption," the statement said, adding it was clarified that no reference has been made to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the matter.
Stating that the case is a complex one and involves the examination of legal, administrative and Constitutional issues, the Raj Bhavan said the records which are voluminous were being received from the State Government, with the connected judgments having been handed over to Raj Bhavan on September 14.
"All efforts will be taken to process the papers scrupulously. Necessary consultation may be carried out, when required, in due course. The decision will be taken in a just and fair manner and in accordance with the Constitution," it said.
Senior AIADMK leader and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar said the Governor has to accept the recommendation made by the State Cabinet on the release of seven convicts. "We hope the Governor will take a good decision in this regard," he told reporters here.
Tamil Nadu political parties, including the DMK, have welcomed the state's move to release the convicts. However, Congress has opposed the move despite its chief Rahul Gandhi has recently told a gathering that he and his sister had forgiven his father's killers.
The cabinet's decision was the third such move by the ruling AIADMK government since 2014 to release the convicts. When late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had attempted to release the seven convicts in 2014 and 2016, the Centre opposed it on the grounds that the case was still being investigated by a national agency.
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