The Supreme Court has commuted death sentence of three convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case to life imprisonment. While commuting death sentence, the apex court cited 11 years delay on the part of the Centre in deciding their mercy plea.

The court rejected Centre's contention that delay in deciding
mercy plea of convicts Santhan, Murugan and Perarivalan did not result in agony.

It implored the government to render advice in reasonable time to
the President for taking a decision on mercy pleas. The apex court expressed confidence that the mercy plea can be decided much faster than what is being done now.