Chennai, June 12 : The Madras High Court today adjourned to June 18, the hearing on the petition filed by Nalini Murugan, seeking premature release instead of the life imprisonment that she is serving in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The Court adjourned the hearing of the petition, after the Centre and the Tamil Nadu Government sought two-weeks’ time to file their replies.

Earlier, the court had asked the state Government to clear its position on the matter by June 10.

Nalini, 37, had moved the High Court after her plea for release on the ground of good conduct and having completed over 17 years in jail was rejected by the Tamil Nadu Government.

Initially Nalini was sentenced to death along with her husband Sriharan alias Murugan and two others.

Later following an appeal by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, her sentence was commuted to life-imprisonment, on the ground that Nalini delivered a baby girl at the Vellore Central prison.

Meanwhile, prior to Nalini's petition seeking early release, Priyanaka Vadra met her at the prison in March. (ANI)