Why didn146;t full prison board look into Nalini plea, asks HC

Reserving its orders on the bail petition filed by Nalini Sriharan, the Madras High Court directed Advocate General to file an affidavit on why all members of the State Prison Advisory Board were not intimated about the meeting that looked into Nalini8217;s application.

Nalini, lodged in Vellore Central Prison serving life sentence for her role in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, had approached the HC after the Board rejected her application for premature release though she has completed over 17 years behind bars.

During the course of arguments in the past weeks, while the state Government opposed her petition, the Centre avoided taking a stand, with its counsel stating that it need not file any counter as the petitioner had not named the Centre in her petition.

Nalini8217;s counsel S Duraisamy argued that only three members of the Advisory Board were present when Nalini8217;s plea was considered, though it is mandated to have seven members.