New Delhi:
A life sentence is like slow poison and a convict sentenced to life in jail must suffer and understand the pain of the victims, a five-judge Constitution bench hearing a case linked to former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassins today said.
Chief Justice HL Dattu, who heads the bench, said, "In the death sentence, one is dead and gone and people also forget about that person as public memory is short. But life sentence is like slow poison. We want them to be alive and suffer and realise the crime they committed and understand how the victim's family felt."
The bench was hearing the Centre's petition challenging the Tamil Nadu government's decision to release seven people convicted for the 1991 assassination of Rajiv Gandhi by a suicide bomber from the separatist militant group LTTE, after the top court commuted their sentences.
The Supreme Court had stopped their release from prison after the previous Congress government argued that Tamil Nadu can't decide on their release as the case was investigated by the CBI. On Tuesday, the BJP-led government also asked the Supreme Court not to show any mercy to the killers.
The Tamil Nadu government had defended its decision saying a state has the power to grant remission to convicts. A state government can decide to release prisoners if they have served 14 years of a life sentence.
The Chief Justice said, "When we commute death to life it means life till death and no remission is permissible."
Tamil Nadu replied saying the court cannot take away the power of the state government on remission. Arguments will resume on Tuesday.