Governor Banwarilal Purohit is likely to decide on whether to allow premature release of seven life convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, once he receives legal opinion.
Sources said the opinion, being sought from legal experts who are outside the State, is expected to be provided shortly.
Notwithstanding the Supreme Court’s disposal last week of a petition filed by six persons against the State government’s 2014 proposal to grant the convicts remission, the matter still involves a number of complex issues, which is why the Governor requires the legal advice. On September 9, the State Cabinet, at its meeting, recommended the premature release of the convicts Sriharan alias Murugan, Suthendraraja alias Santhan, Robert Payas, S. Jayakumar alias Jayakumaran, A.G. Perarivalan alias Arivu, Ravichandran alias Ravi and Nalini Sriharan.
Till the model code of conduct came into force in March, the State government had sent two reminders to the Governor. On Monday, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami told reporters in Salem that his government was committed to releasing the convicts.