Nalini can argue through video conferencing: Govt tells HC

The Madras High Court on Tuesday (June 18) asked the prison authorities to get a reply from S Nalini, one of the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination case whether she is willing to argue the case filed by her seeking ordinary leave for six months, through video conferencing.

A month ago, Nalini filed a habeas corpus petition urging the court to order the prison authorities to produce her before the court to argue the case seeking ordinary leave for six months to make arrangements for her daughter’s marriage, who is now in London.

In the petition, Nalini said, while every life convict was entitled to one month ordinary leave on completion of two years of imprisonment, she had not got any leave ever since she was imprisoned. Hearing the petition, the justices MM Sundresh and M Nirmal Kumar had asked the state government to file a reply to it.

A week ago, when the case came up for hearing, the judges questioned the government counsel about the hurdles in producing Nalini before the court. The judges also stressed that she cannot be denied of her rights as every prisoner has the right to appear before the court and argue in person.

The law officer who appeared on behalf of the government counsel stated the security issues while bringing her from Vellore prison to Madras High Court. However, the case was adjourned for the next hearing on June 18. On Tuesday when the case came up for hearing, the government counsel said that Nalini can argue the case through video conferencing citing to the security issues.

However, the justices Sundresh and Nirmal Kumar directed the prison authorities to get a reply from Nalini if she is willing to argue the case through video conferencing and sought the reply within two weeks. The court also said that they would decide on the matter based on the reply from Nalini.