Nalini and her husband Murugan, both serving life imprisonment in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, will soon receive Master in Computer Application (MCA) degrees from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

"Nalini has performed well in her final year MCA exams with first class. She cleared all subjects with good marks. Her husband, who is doing his final semester, also performed well and are expected to clear the course very soon," IGNOU Regional Director K Panneerselvam said.

"She (Nalini) is the topper among those inmates who took the MCA degree along with her," he said.

Stating that Nalini would be the first prisoner in Tamil Nadu to complete MCA, he said the couple had been consistently performing well in previous semesters also.

"We have requested our Vice-Chancellor to confer the degree on Nalini in the Jail complex itself," he said.

Currently, Nalini and Murugan are lodged in the high security prison at Vellore.

On September 11, Nalini had filed a petition in the Madras High Court, seeking premature release.

She said she was required to serve 14 years of imprisonment to become entitled for premature release under Sec 433(a) of CrPC, which she completed on June 18, 2005.

In her petition, Nalini contended that the Governor had allowed her clemency petition and the state government, by an April 24, 2000 order, had commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment.

Nalini was restored 'A' class facility in prison on September 3 by Additional Special Judge court for Tada Cases, a facility which she enjoyed till the end of January 1998.

... contd.