Despite opposition by Centre, SC grants bail to Rajiv Gandhi assassination convict
Darpan News Desk IANS, 09 Mar, 2022 12:05 PM
New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to A.G. Perarivalan convicted for the assissination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, noting that he has already spent more than 30 years behind the bar.
A bench comprising Justices L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai said: "Taking into account, the appellant has spent more than 30 years of incarceration, he is entitled to be released on bail despite vehement opposition of the Additional Solicitor General (representing the Centre), the appellant is directed to be released on bail."
During the hearing, the bench noted that the decision on Perarivalan's mercy petition had been delayed, and he had already undergone more than 30 years of imprisonment. The bench queried Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, what is the role of the Governor in sending the remission plea to the President? Does the Governor have any independent discretion in a decision taken by the state cabinet? The bench noted that there is sufficient material on record in connection with his conduct during the imprisonment, along with his educational qualifications.
In February, last year, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs had informed the Supreme Court that the Tamil Nadu Governor has recorded that the President of India is the competent authority to deal with pardon plea of A.G. Perarivalan, one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
In 2014, the top court had commuted his death penalty to life imprisonment on the ground of delay in deciding their mercy petitions. Perarivalan was sentenced to death for aiding in making the bomb, which killed Rajiv Gandhi.
On various occasions, the Supreme Court had expressed its dissatisfaction over the pendency of the pardon plea of Perarivalan for over two years with the Tamil Nadu Governor. Perarivalan had moved the top court seeking premature release and remit of his sentence. He had also cited the recommendation made by the state government in 2018 for his release.
Gurkirat Singh, who was the chief guest at Punjab Day Function held during the ongoing India International Trade Fair 2021 at Pragati Maidan, also urged the Central government for reopening of Kartarpur Corridor, which has been closed since March 2020 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
Acceding to a long-pending demand of former Olympians, Punjab Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Pargat Singh on Monday announced to waive the condition of income limit on pension of medal winner international players.
Out of the total surveyed people in Punjab, 52.1 per cent think that the new party of ex-Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will hurt the Congress, as per the ABP-CVoter-IANS 5-State Snap Poll.
The Delhi High Court on Friday dismissed a petition seeking removal of the then Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava from his post and punishment for police officials who allegedly failed to discharge their duty during the farmers' tractor rally in the national capital on January 26 (Republic Day).
The West Bengal government is planning to bring a resolution in the Assembly against the extension of jurisdiction of the BSF in the state. After Punjab, West Bengal will be the second state to bring such a resolution.
The BJP is still the favourite to win the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh next year but it is now losing 108 seats as the Samajwadi Party rises rapidly, while in Uttarakhand and Punjab, Congress is making a strong comeback, as per the ABP-CVoter-IANS 5-State Snap Poll.
