NEW DELHI— the Supreme Court of India (SCI) adjourned on Thursday, March 6, 2014 for the March 26, 2014 hearing of the Indian government’s petition against the Tamil Nadu government’s decision for setting free seven prisoners whose life sentences have been completed since being convicted of assassinating former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
A bench led by Chief Justice P Sathasivam deferred the case for a final hearing after the union government sought more time to respond to the state’s reply in which Tamil Nadu claimed it had the lawful right to remit the jail terms of the convicts. Replying to the Center’s petition, the state said it was well within its jurisdiction, and powers, under the Code of Criminal Procedure to decide on the remission, and that the central government’s view was sought on the contentious resolution, only as a customary process.
The Tamil Nadu government also questioned the Center’s plea, and asked as to why it rushed to the Supreme Court (SC) rather than replying to the state’s letter seeking its stand on release of the prisoners.
Previously, the SC had restrained the state from releasing the prisoners who were undergoing life sentences, and directed it to maintain status quo. The Court had stayed the release of three convicts on February 20, 2014.
