In Brief
A.G. Perarivalan was convicted in connection with the assassination of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and sentenced to death, later commuted to life imprisonment. Tamil Nadu's Cabinet recommended his remission in 2018, but the Governor did not decide and instead forwarded the recommendation to the President after 2.5 years. The Supreme Court held that the Governor's advice from the Cabinet is binding and cannot be referred to the President. The Court also noted the appellant's 32 years of incarceration, exemplary conduct, chronic illnesses, and educational achievements. Exercising power under Article 142, the Court deemed him to have served his sentence and ordered his immediate release.
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