The Supreme Court today stayed the release of three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case by the Tamil Nadu government, saying there
have been procedural lapses on the part of the state.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam directed the state government to maintain status quo regarding three prisoners whose death sentence was commuted to life term
by it. The court said the Centre can file a fresh petition regarding the other four prisoners whose sentence has also been remitted.

The court said that all procedural checks laid down in the law have not been followed by the state government and it will examine the issue raised by the Centre.

The bench issued notice to the Tamil Nadu government and the the convicts and directed them to file its response within two weeks.

Yesterday, the Tamil Nadu government decided to set free within three days all the seven convicts after the Supreme Court commuted the death penalty of three assassins.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said if there is no response from the Centre within three days, her government will invoke powers vested with it under Section 432 CrPC and release all the seven convicts.