The Madras High Court today rejected Nalini’s plea for early release. The court however added that the state home secretary could consider her demand for early release based on the Supreme Court’s decision.

A life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, Nalini Sriharan is the longest serving female prisoner in India. In her petition, she said that she had spent about 25 years in prison though she qualifies to be considered for an early release after the 20th year. Disposing of the writ petition filed by her, demanding an early release, Justice M. Sathyanarayanan said that issuing an order in her favour would amount to directing the Governor to act in a particular manner.

Refusing to issue such a direction, the judge declined to consider the petitioner’s representation “in light of the fact that the investigation is conducted by the CBI, coupled with the order of the Supreme Court.”

The court also said that the state Home Secretary could consider her plea based on the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment. The state government informed the court that they had written to the Centre in March 2016 about releasing all the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The Centre refused to oblige, claiming that the issue was pending in the Supreme Court.

Nalini, her husband and 24 others were sentenced to death by a special court for their involvement in the assassination of the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi at Shriperumbudur on May 21, 1991. The Supreme Court confirmed the death penalty for four and handed out life sentences to three. The others were released. All the four death sentences were commuted to life for various reasons.