Supreme Court of India has commuted the death sentences of three individuals convicted of assassinating former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi to life in prison. Citing the 11-year delay in deciding their mercy petition, the court said that the Tamil Nadu government can decide whether or not they want to release the three men- Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan.
Gandhi was killed in May 1991 when a suicide bomber blew herself up after touching his feet at a campaign rally in Tamil Nadu. Fourteen other individuals are said to have died in the assassination.
"We implore government to render advice in reasonable time to the President for taking a decision on mercy pleas," the court said.
Supreme Court judges stated that there had been an inordinate delay on government and President's part to decide the mercy pleas.