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“Nalini’s release will be as per rules”

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister’s decision after obtaining Advisory Board’s recommendations

CHENNAI: Putting to rest speculation in a section of media on the release of Nalini, who was convicted in the case relating to Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi clarified on Thursday that the government will take action as per rules and law after obtaining the recommendations of the Prison Advisory Board constituted to examine the release of prisoners.

According to the law, the Board – which comprises the District Judge, the District Collector, the Jail Superintendent, the Principal Sessions Judge, the Regional Probation Officer, and two non-official members – examines the issue or recommends the release of prisoners on the basis of good conduct apart from completing 14 years in jail.

The Madras High Court had observed that the Advisory Board was not validly convened and directed that the case be reconsidered in a proper manner.

After the board looked at the issue and submitted its recommendations, the government would examine it based on law, he said.

On the question of distributing land pattas to the poor in Chennai, Mr. Karunanidhi said that this was being done like never before, but Chennai was the biggest city in the State and could not be compared with smaller towns.

Also, pattas could not be given in objectionable areas along the waterways or State highways. Even with all the constraints, as many as 2,386 pattas had been distributed since October 2007.

He refuted the criticism of Left parties that enough was not being done on this front. He recalled that he had sent a team headed by Revenue Minister I. Periyasamy to study the extent of land patta distribution in West Bengal and the team had reported that Tamil Nadu had a far better record. On power production, he said after the DMK government was formed in 2006, a total of 5,500 MW worth projects had been launched. Commenting on the status of maintenance of the thermal power plants, he said only because of regular maintenance did the plants perform better.

In 2007-08, they produced 21,355 million units compared to 18,795 million units in 2005-06.

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