The Madras High Court would pronounce its orders on February 10 on the telegram sent by Nalini, the life convict in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking to appear in person and argue her case for premature release.

Nalini, who had been fighting for early release after her death sentence was commuted to life, had sent the telegram to the Registrar General stating that she may be allowed to appear in person and take on Janata Party president Subramnanian Swamy, who opposed her early release.

A Division Bench comprising Justice E Dharmarao and Paul Vasanthakumar reserved orders on Nalini’s plea, even as Dr Swamy said she could not be allowed to appear in person to argue her case.

Stating that she was a convicted prisoner, Dr Swamy talking to newspersons, had said the law did not permit a life convict to appear in person in a court of law and argue the case.

After a section of the media reported that the Prison Advisory Board (PAB), constituted by the Tamil Nadu Government had recommended early release of Nalini, Dr Swamy, an acerbic critic of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), had moved the High Court, opposing Nalini’s early release.

UNI