The Tamil Nadu government will seek the release of the seven persons convicted for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The recommendation of the state cabinet will be sent to the Governor immediately, said state minister D Jayakumar, adding the "public sentiment" is in favour of the release.
The government's move comes as the Supreme Court asked Governor Banwarilal Purohit to take a call on the mercy petition of one of the convicts, AG Perarivalan. The state reasoned that it would recommend the release of all since they had also petitioned for early release.In March 2016, the Tamil Nadu government had proposed to release the convicts and sought the Centre’s views on the issue. However, last month, the Centre told the Supreme Court that remission of their sentence would set a “dangerous precedent” and have “international ramifications”. On Thursday, a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Naveen Sinha and KM Joseph disposed of the Centre’s petition opposing the Tamil Nadu government’s proposal for the release of the convicts and asked the Governor to consider the mercy petition of Perarivalan.