A Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the release of convicts involved in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi till July 22.
It also issued notice to the states in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, by restraining them from exercising power of remission for releasing the convicts from jail who are serving life sentence till further orders.
The remarks came a day after S Nalini, who has been undergoing life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, approached the Supreme Court seeking to declare as "null and void" a provision in law mandating Tamil Nadu government to consult the Centre before releasing seven life term convicts in the case.
The issue of remission was referred to the Constitution Bench after the Centre had challenged the Tamil Nadu government's decision to remit the sentences of all seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. The court had on February 20 stayed the Tamil Nadu government's decision to release three convicts.