New Delhi: The Centre has promulgated an Ordinance to give statutory powers to Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) Review Committees for redressal of complaints by individuals booked under the anti-terror law.

President A P J Abdul Kalam promulgated the Ordinance on October 28 to amend the POTA to confer more powers on the Central and State Review Committees making their decisions binding on the Central and State governments and police officials.

A bill to replace the Ordinance will be moved in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament, likely to be convened in December, official sources said.

Under increasing pressure from its allies complaining against the alleged misuse of POTA, the Union Cabinet last week cleared an Ordinance to amend the tough anti-terrorism law that would make decisions of the Review Committees binding on the state governments.

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.

PTI