Date:13/06/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/13/stories/2008061355730400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

State, Centre to file counter to Nalini’s writ plea

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Thursday granted time till June 18 to the Tamil Nadu and the Central governments to file their counter to the writ petition by S. Nalini, a life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking premature release.

When the writ petition and the petition by Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy seeking to implead himself as a respondent came up for hearing before Justice S. Nagamuthu, Dr. Swamy’s counsel said Nalini was using the court as a tool for her early release. Public interest was involved in the matter and Dr. Swamy may be permitted to implead himself as a party to the petition filed by Nalini. Nalini’s counsel objected to Dr. Swamy’s plea. He said he would file a detailed counter to the plea.

The Additional Government Pleader and the Assistant Solicitor-General, P. Wilson, sought two weeks’ time to file counter to Nalini’s petition. The court then posted the matter for June 18.