Centre sets up tribunal to look into declaring LTTE unlawful under UAPA

The Central government on Thursday constituted a Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) tribunal to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to declare the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) an unlawful organisation.

According to a government statement, the tribunal will be headed by Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora of the Delhi High Court. The tribunal will also review the Union Home Ministry's decision to extend the ban on the LTTE for another five years.

In May this year, the Centre extended the ban imposed on the LTTE, a separatist organisation, for five more years. The ban aims to prevent the LTTE from expanding its separatist tendencies amongst the masses, enhancing its support base in the country, particularly in Tamil Nadu, and threatening India’s territorial integrity, as per the government.

On June 5, a notification was issued declaring the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) an unlawful association.

"Now, therefore, in the exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 read with sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, consisting of Ms. Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an unlawful association," the notification stated.