New Delhi, Oct 22: An ordinance to amend the tough anti-terror law Pota will be promulgated in a week's time to accord statutory power to the review committees and make their decisions binding on state governments, a top official said today. "The ordinance will come in a week's time," the official said.
Under increasing pressure from its Tamil Nadu allies like MDMK and DMK complaining against the alleged misuse of Pota, the Union Cabinet had yesterday cleared the ordinance to give statutory powers to the review committees. A bill to replace it will be moved in the winter session of Parliament.
While a three-member central review committee is headed by Justice Arun Saharya, states could also set up such committees to deal with complaints lodged by those charged with Pota.
In case a petition seeking review of Pota charges was moved both before the central and state review committees and there were conflicting findings, the decision of the central committee would be binding on the central, state governments and the investigation officials, Swaraj said describing the ordinance as a "major step" towards redressal of grievances.
Bureau Report