SC order releasing Perarivalan has established state's rights, Stalin says

COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday said the Supreme court order releasing Rajiv Gandhi assassination case convict A G Perarivalan has not only established human rights but also federal rights of states.
Talking to reporters in Chennai soon after the apex court judgement was given, Stalin said the state government would now take steps for the release of the remaining six life convicts in the case.
“The complete details of the judgement are expected to reach us this evening or tomorrow morning. We will discuss with legal experts, and the state government will take steps to release the other convicts,’’ he said.
Welcoming the release of Perarivalan after have been imprisoned for 31 years, Stalin said the judgement had been given after fully accepting the arguments put forward by the state government.
The DMK had promised that it would take proactive measures for the release of seven convicts in the case, he noted.
“Even as the judgement is historic on human rights and humanitarian grounds, the order has also established the state’s rights in a majestic manner by the apex court,” he said.
“The governor has no right to interfere in the state government’s decisions. This is a key part of the judgement. The judges have also said that the court will interfere when the governor is dysfunctional. At the same time, the court has also clarified that there was no need for consent from the Centre in this issue,’’ he said.
“Through this judgement, it has become clearer that the governor cannot go beyond his duties and interfere in administrative issues,’’ Stalin said.