Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict A.G. Perarivalan Moves Madras HC for Passport

A.G. Perarivalan, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, has moved the Madras High Court seeking the issuance of a passport. The plea was heard by Justice D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, who directed the passport authorities to consider Perarivalan's request for expeditious disposal of his application. The development comes nearly two years after Perarivalan was released from prison following a Supreme Court order invoking Article 142.

Perarivalan, who was arrested in 1991 and spent over three decades in prison, was granted bail in March 2022 and subsequently released after the Supreme Court exercised its extraordinary powers. His counsel argued that despite his release, he faces hurdles in obtaining a passport due to his past conviction. The court's direction to passport authorities to expedite the process is seen as a significant step toward his rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

The case raises important questions about the rights of former convicts, particularly in high-profile cases, and the administrative challenges they face in resuming normal life. If Perarivalan succeeds in obtaining a passport, it could set a precedent for others in similar situations. The passport authorities are now expected to process his application in accordance with the court's directive, while legal experts watch closely for any potential implications on the broader discourse of criminal justice and rehabilitation in India.