Nalini plea for video call: Madras HC reserves verdict

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Wednesday reserved its orders on the plea seeking to permit Rajiv Gandhi assassination case life convict Nalini and her husband Murugan to make video calls toher mother in-law in Sri Lanka.
Concluding the final hearing, a division bench of Justice N Kirubakaran and Justice V M Velumani said they are reserving the order on the plea moved by Nalini’s mother S Padma.
According to the petitioner, Murugan’s father died of cancer recently in Sri Lanka and he was not permitted to participate in the final rituals even through video call by the prison authorities.
Representing the petitioner, advocate Radhakrishnan contended that denial of such facilities would amount to denial of fundamental rights of the prisoners.
Opposing the plea, state public prosecutor A Natarajan submitted that the relief sought by the prisoners is not fundamental or vested right.
Assistant solicitor general of India G Karthikeyan argued that there are several factors that would affect the national security in allowing the convicts to make such calls to a foreign nation. “There is a possibility that video calls made by prisoners might aid in communicating secret messages,” he said. Recording the submission, the bench said that the authorities can record the conversation and in case they suspect anything the call can be immediately suspended.