Madras HC rules Tamil Nadu governor bound on remission decisions
India
Big update from the Madras High Court: The Tamil Nadu governor now has to follow what the state cabinet recommends when it comes to letting convicts out early or granting them remission.
This decision, delivered on April 2, 2026, settles some confusion from conflicting court rulings in 2024 and makes it clear that the governor isn't free to decide these things alone.
Court: Article 161 applies, prosecution inapplicable
The court pointed out that this isn't a new idea: Supreme Court judgments like the Maru Ramu case (1980) and A.G. Perarivalan's release (2022) already said the governor is bound by cabinet advice under Article 161 of the Constitution.
The judges also clarified that older cases about prosecution powers don't apply here, keeping things straightforward for future decisions.