New Delhi, October 29: In a decision that can lead to a final view on the clemency petition of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Home Minister P Chidambaram has recommended to the President commutation of the death sentence of a prisoner in Tamil Nadu.
This is the first of the 28 cases, including that of Guru, that is pending with the Centre for a decision on death sentence.
Union Home Ministry sources said Chidambaram has sent his recommendation to President Pratibha Patil to commute the death sentence of Tamil Nadu resident R Govindaswami to life imprisonment yesterday.
Govindaswami was accused of the murder of his uncle, aunt and three cousins in 1984. He was acquitted by a trial court in 1987, an order that was challenged by the state government in the Madras High Court which however convicted him and sentenced to death.
–Agencies