CHENNAI: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday said several organisations and political parties had approached her to intervene and stop the death sentence of Perarivalan, Santhan and Murugan from being carried out, but in reality she did not have such powers. “It is legally incorrect to say that I have the powers to save these three convicted persons. I request the political leaders not to spread the wrong information that I have the powers to commute the death sentence.”Several political parties as well as the Tamil Nadu Film Directors Association and the mother of Perarivalan are among those who have appealed to the Chief Minister. Explaining her position, she referred to the Central government’s letter dated March 5, 1991. It says, “According to Article 257 (1) of the Constitution, in cases of death sentences where a petition for grant of pardon etc., has earlier been rejected by the President in exercise of his powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, it would not be open for the State government to seek to exercise similar powers under Article 161 in respect of the same case. “The letter further said “If there is a change of circumstances or if any new material is available, the condemned person himself or any one on his behalf may make a fresh application to be President for reconsideration of the earlier order. Once the President has rejected a mercy petition, all future applications in this behalf should be addressed to and would be dealt with by the President.”Deeply regretting the suicide of a woman, Senkodi, a volunteer of NGO Makkal Mandram, demanding clemency for the convicts, Jayalalithaa said no one should commit such mistakes out of emotion.
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