Supreme Court of India(SCI)RestrainsTamil Nadu from freeing Rajiv Gandhi's killers Wednesday July 09,2014

The Supreme Court of India(SCI)on Wednesday July 09,2014restrained all states from exercising the power of remission to release convicts serving life sentences until next hearing, and sought their response on whether the Centre's nod is needed for the purpose in cases prosecuted by central agencies like the CBI.

A five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha issued notices to all state governments and asked them to file their responses by July 18 so that the matter can be taken up on July 22.

The issue of remission was referred to the Constitution bench after the Centre challenged the Tamil Nadu government's decision to remit the sentences of all seven convicts - including Murugan, Santhan, Arivu, Nalini - in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The bench made it clear that there is a need for a categorical response on whether states have any role on the question of remission for life convicts in cases handled by the CBI.

The court had on February 20 stayed Tamil Nadu's decision to release three convicts whose death sentence was commuted to life term on February 18.

When the matter came up for hearing with the cases of others convicts in a similar situation, including those in the Red Fort attack case, Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar said Tamil Nadu has no power to exercise jurisdiction in such cases.

"Today, Tamil Nadu has exercised power (of remission). Tomorrow other states would also," he had said while reading out SC's April 25 order when the matter was referred to the constitution bench.