TN Govt to file counter in Nalini case by July 2

Chennai, June 19 (UNI) Madras High Court today granted time till July 2 to the Tamil Nadu Government to file its counter in the impleading petition filed by Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy, opposing the pre-mature release of Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

When the petition came up for hearing before Justice Nagamuthu, Advocate General G Masilamani submitted that Dr Swamy had levelled many allegations against the State Government and sought time to file its counter.

Accepting the plea, the Judge gave time till July 2 to the Tamil Nadu government for filing its counter and posted the case to that date for further hearing.

No Tably, Nalini, who had been languishing in the Vellore Central prison, had filed a petition, seeking early release. She had also said she had completed nearly 17 years in prison.

Opposing this, Dr Swamy filed the impleading petition, contending that life sentence meant sentence for life and she could not seek premature release.

Nalini, who had filed her counter yesterday, opposed Dr Swamy's impleading petition on the ground that he was in not connected with the case and her writ petition challenged the October 31, 2007 Government order that had rejected her request for premature release.

She submitted that she had filed the present writ petition only challenging the GO and Dr Swamy was in no way connected with it.

UNI XR-GV SYU NS1732