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In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday deferred the verdict in the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi and referred the case to a larger Constitution Bench.The Constitution Bench will now decide whether the Tamil Nadu government can release a life term convict whose death sentence has been converted into life imprisonment.
Saying that an interim order staying Tamil Nadu government's decision on remission of sentence will continue, the top court added that the seven conspirators in the assassination case will not be released for now. The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam framed seven questions to be addressed by the Constitution Bench, including whether after commutation of the death sentence into life imprisonment, can the government further grant them remission by releasing them.
Saying that an interim order staying Tamil Nadu government's decision on remission of sentence will continue, the top court added that the seven conspirators in the assassination case will not be released for now. The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam framed seven questions to be addressed by the Constitution Bench, including whether after commutation of the death sentence into life imprisonment, can the government further grant them remission by releasing them.