Chennai: The Madras High Court today (Apr 29, 2004) held that the POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) Review Committee's order to withdraw POTA cases against MDMK (Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) chief Vaiko and eight others was binding on the Tamil Nadu Government.

A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice B Subashan Reddy and Justice V S Sirpurkar, disposed of the petitions filed by Vaiko, seeking a court direction to the State Government to comply with the review committee's order and another by the State Government seeking to quash the order.

The Justice A B Saharya Committee on April 8 had concluded that the case against Vaiko did not constitute an offence under POTA and had directed the State Government to immediately take suitable steps to obtain appropriate orders from concerned courts in the case, in accordance with the law.