Rajiv case: HC grants 15 days leave to convict Ravichandran
TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.00 AM IST
Madurai: Ravichandran, a life convict in the former Prime Minister (PM) Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been granted 15 days ordinary leave by the Madras high court from January 10. P Rajeswari of Aruppukottai taluk in Virudhunagar district, mother of Ravinchandran in her petition had stated that her son, who was awarded life sentence in the case had completed nearly 28 years of imprisonment.
Though she had submitted several representations and moved the high court seeking leave for her son, it was not granted. Recently, she moved the high court, which on October 15, directed the state to consider her representation within three weeks. Subsequently, the superintendent of Madurai Central Prison passed an order on November 13 rejecting her claim on the ground that Virudhunagar superintendent of police had submitted a report stating that there was a possibility of life threat to her son and it would not be possible for the police to provide escort as police selection process and local body elections were to be announced. Hence, Rajeswari moved the high court Madurai bench seeking to grant one-month ordinary leave to Ravichandran to enable him settle the family after his release.
When the petition was taken up for hearing on Monday, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that recently ordinary leave was also granted to few other convicts in the case including Nalini Sriharan, Perarivalan and the same could also be extended to Ravichandran.
The additional advocate general K Chellapandian submitted that since more than 20 police officials are required for the convict’s escort and the same would not be possible due to the intervening local body elections, the representation seeking ordinary leave was rejected. He further submitted that the state would consider the ordinary leave plea after Pongal festival.
Taking note of the submissions, a division bench of justice T Raja and justice B Pugalendhi observed that the convict had been earlier granted ordinary leave five times since 2001 - four times based on the order of the high court and once based on the order of the prison authorities to attend the final rites of his father.
The judges observed that on all five occasions when ordinary leave was granted, the life convict had surrendered before prison authorities without causing any inconvenience. They further observed that the state in its counter had mentioned that his leave application had been rejected due to local body elections and it would not be able to provide sufficient protection for the convict.
The judges observed that even though the local body elections were completed, the government’s contention that it would consider the ordinary leave plea after Pongal festival is not acceptable. Hence, the judges granted 15 days leave to Ravichandran and observed, “Let him spend time with his family on this Pongal.” The judges directed him to surrender before the prison authorities after the completion of 15 days ordinary leave. The matter has been posted to January 28 for reporting compliance.
TNN | Jan 7, 2020, 04.00 AM IST
Madurai: Ravichandran, a life convict in the former Prime Minister (PM) Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has been granted 15 days ordinary leave by the Madras high court from January 10. P Rajeswari of Aruppukottai taluk in Virudhunagar district, mother of Ravinchandran in her petition had stated that her son, who was awarded life sentence in the case had completed nearly 28 years of imprisonment.
Though she had submitted several representations and moved the high court seeking leave for her son, it was not granted. Recently, she moved the high court, which on October 15, directed the state to consider her representation within three weeks. Subsequently, the superintendent of Madurai Central Prison passed an order on November 13 rejecting her claim on the ground that Virudhunagar superintendent of police had submitted a report stating that there was a possibility of life threat to her son and it would not be possible for the police to provide escort as police selection process and local body elections were to be announced. Hence, Rajeswari moved the high court Madurai bench seeking to grant one-month ordinary leave to Ravichandran to enable him settle the family after his release.
When the petition was taken up for hearing on Monday, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that recently ordinary leave was also granted to few other convicts in the case including Nalini Sriharan, Perarivalan and the same could also be extended to Ravichandran.
The additional advocate general K Chellapandian submitted that since more than 20 police officials are required for the convict’s escort and the same would not be possible due to the intervening local body elections, the representation seeking ordinary leave was rejected. He further submitted that the state would consider the ordinary leave plea after Pongal festival.
Taking note of the submissions, a division bench of justice T Raja and justice B Pugalendhi observed that the convict had been earlier granted ordinary leave five times since 2001 - four times based on the order of the high court and once based on the order of the prison authorities to attend the final rites of his father.
The judges observed that on all five occasions when ordinary leave was granted, the life convict had surrendered before prison authorities without causing any inconvenience. They further observed that the state in its counter had mentioned that his leave application had been rejected due to local body elections and it would not be able to provide sufficient protection for the convict.
The judges observed that even though the local body elections were completed, the government’s contention that it would consider the ordinary leave plea after Pongal festival is not acceptable. Hence, the judges granted 15 days leave to Ravichandran and observed, “Let him spend time with his family on this Pongal.” The judges directed him to surrender before the prison authorities after the completion of 15 days ordinary leave. The matter has been posted to January 28 for reporting compliance.
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