NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has forwarded to the Union Home Ministry a recommendation of the Tamil Nadu Government to release the seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case for its view, officials said Friday.
The State Government has sought the release of the seven convicts citing Article 161of the Constitution, which empowers the Governor to grant pardon and to suspend, remit or commute sentence in certain cases.
The judicial division of the Home Ministry will examine the legal position of the case and take a view as per the law, a Home Ministry official said.
According to Article 161, the Governor of a state shall have the power to grant pardon, reprieve, respite or remission of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any law relating to a matter to which the executive power of the state extends.
However, officials have earlier said, the Governor has no power to release the seven convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case and will have to consult the Centre as per law since the investigation into the assassination was carried out by a CBI-led team. (AGENCIES)
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