Delhi HC Tribunal confirms 5-yr ban on LTTE

The Union government, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, constituted the tribunal on June 11 for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there was sufficient cause for declaring the LTTE as an unlawful association.

The tribunal, headed by Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal, a judge of the Delhi High Court, on November 6 confirmed the five-year ban extension announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on May 14.

“And whereas, the said tribunal, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 4 of the said Act, made an order on November 6, 2019, confirmed the declaration made in the said notification,” according to a notification by the Home Ministry.

The tribunal in its order said one of the aims and objectives of the LTTE is to protect and preserve the geographical identity and integrity of the ‘traditional homelands of Tamils and Muslims.’

Tamil Nadu has traditionally been considered to be the homeland of Tamil and, therefore, the ultimate objective of LTTE is to integrate traditional Tamil areas of India with the

Tamil speaking areas of Sri Lanka and such an act constitutes ‘unlawful activity’ within the meaning of Section 2(o) of the UAP Act, being intended to bring about cession of a part of the territory of India, it said.

The prime objective of LTTE is “total liberation of its homeland and the establishment of an independent, sovereign socialist state of Tamil Nadu” which still remains to be its prime target and many activities during this period are aimed for that, by the LTTE/Pro-LTTE groups.

The tribunal said according to a comprehensive and holistic reading of the evidence adduced by the Centre as well as Tamil Nadu, it is evident that the LTTE continued to operate in India from 2014 to 2019 more particularly in Tamil Nadu and has indulged in various disruptive activities in order to malign the Government of India with an objective of creating a separatist Tamil Eelam and the details of which have already been placed on record by the witnesses.