New Delhi:
The Supreme Court today directed the states not to release life convicts prematurely.
The Top Court delivered the interim order during the hearing on the Centre's petition challenging the Tamil Nadu government's decision to release the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case after cutting their jail terms short.
The Supreme Court also served notices on all the states seeking their response on whether the Centre's nod was needed before releasing life convicts who had been found guilty in cases probed by the Central Bureau of investigation, or the CBI. The order was pronounced by a Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India RM Lodha.
The J Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu had in February decided to set free all the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The Centre, which was then led by the UPA government, challenged the state government's order. The new government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has persisted with the argument made by its predecessor.
Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, while arguing on behalf of the Centre, said that convicts were being released before the completion of their jail terms across the country, and wanted the Supreme Court to issue notices to all the states.
The states have been asked to file their responses by July 18. The next date of hearing in the case is July 22.
In April, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court had referred the matter to a Constitution bench after the government approached it with a petition challenging the Tamil Nadu government's decision to set all the seven convicts free.
The Jayalalithaa government had taken the plea that the state had powers to release the convicts. The Centre demurred, arguing that the convicts could not be released without its nod as the CBI had probed the case.