The Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Indian government to file its counter affidavit to a petition by MDMK General Secretary Vaiko challenging the order of a tribunal confirming the ban on LTTE.

The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal headed by Justice Vikramjit Sen had confirmed the ban on November 12 after holding public hearings, Hindustan Times reported today (14).

LTTE was declared an Unlawful Association by a central notification on May 24, 1992, an year after former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by the outfit's suicide bomber during an election meeting in Tamil Nadu. The ban has been extended after every two years with the tribunal confirming it.

The latest declaration extending the ban was issued in May last by the Indian Union Home Ministry which had said despite its decimation, LTTE was re-grouping in Tamil Nadu and remnant of its cadres could use India, especially the state, as a rear base for this purpose, Hindustan Times said.