Monday, May 9 2005 16:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (May 9, 2005) issued notice to the Gujarat Government on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions of Prevention of Terrorism (Repeal), Act (POTA) 2004, under which the POTA Review Committees were set up by the Central Government.

A Bench comprising Justice S N Variava and Justice H K Sema sought reply from the State on a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the Gujarat High Court judgement rejecting the petitions in this regard.

The petitioners had challenged the validity of the provisions of sub section 3 and 5 of Section 2 of POTA repeal Act 2004.

In two separate petitions, the legality of the September 4, 2004 notification issued by the Railway Board constituting Justice U C Banerjee Committee to probe the Godhra train carnage was also challenged.

The apex court on February 21 had asked the POTA Committee, headed by Justice S C Jain reviewing POTA cases in Gujarat, to continue its work but not give any final order till the High Court decided petitions challenging the legality of the Centre's order setting up the Committee.

The court had said the Committee was free to go ahead with its work but not give its final order.

The petitions were filed by parties affected by the Godhra train carnage and Akshardham temple terrorist attack case.