Nalini Premature release issue: Produce Advisory Board report-HC orders to State

The Madras High Court has directed the State Government to produce the report of the Prison Advisory Board constituted by it to consider the plea for premature release by Nalini, serving life term in the Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Division Bench comprising of Justices Elipe Dharmarao and K.K. Sashidaran on Wednesday directed the Tamil Nadu Government to submit the report by Thursday. The bench gave the order while hearing a petition by Janata Party president Dr. Subramanian Swamy challenging a single judge’s September 2008 order on constitution of the advisory board.

When the matter came up, special government pleader Desingu informed the court that “the State government has just received the report” and sought a two-weeks time to submit it and sought adjournment until then.

However the Bench rejected the request and directed that the report be produced on Thursday.

Later, State Advocate General (AG) P.S. Raman rushed to the court and sought permission to provide the report in a sealed envelope for the perusal of the judges alone.

He submitted that the report was still under the government’s consideration.

Senior counsel G. Rajagopal, appearing for Dr. Swamy, sought a direction to the State government not to proceed with the report, but the court turned down the plea.

- Asian Tribune -