NLU Delhi Cancels Lecture By Rajiv Gandhi Assassination Convict AG Perarivalan

The National Law University (NLU), Delhi has decided to cancel the lecture of AG Perarivalan, convicted for the assassination of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

It was planned as an annual lecture in criminal law by Project 39A, an initiative of NLU, Delhi.

The lecture titled 'The Denial of Justice and a Quest Unfinished' was to be held at the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) in Chennai on 17 December by the college chapter of Project 39A.

Project 39A is named after Article 39A of the Constitution. It is one of the Directive Principles of State Policy (DPSP) and deals with the subject of "equal justice and free legal aid."

The poster of the lecture had created a massive debate on social media, with people asking how could a person who was convicted for assassinating a former prime minister be invited to give a lecture on matters of law and justice.

They also said that the title of the lecture was casting serious aspersions on the country's judicial system.

The notice issued by NLU, Delhi regarding cancellation of the lecture however made no mention of the debate and cited 'unforeseen circumstances' as the reason for cancellation.

Prior to the cancellation, the organizers had planned to move the lecture online citing 'threats'.

Perarivalan was convicted for purchasing and giving two nine-volt batteries which were used in the suicide bomb belt whose explosion killed Rajiv Gandhi.

Earlier this year, the Supreme Court, using its extraordinary powers under Article 142 had released Perarivalan and the other convicts Nalini, Murugan, Santhan, Robert Payas and Jayakumar.

The union government has appealed to the Supreme Court to review its order releasing the convicts.

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