Congress has described the Tamil Nadu Government's decision to release all seven convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case as irresponsible, perverse and populist.

Party spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said any perverse decision is liable for judicial scrutiny. He said there is a fundamental difference between commutation of a sentence and release or remission.

Tamil Nadu government yesterday 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.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has said that the Centre will examine the Tamil Nadu government's move. He told reporters yesterday that the Home Ministry has not received any letter from Tamil Nadu government so far. Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad viewed the news of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins being treated with compassion as disturbing.