The Madras High Court on Monday upheld the Centre's ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) between 2010 and 2012 and it has been renewed till 2014.
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) chief Vaiko was among a group of politicians who had challenged the ban.
In May 2009, the Sri Lankan military defeated the LTTE or Tamil Tigers and ended a nearly two-decade-long civil war in the island. Human rights activists have accused the defence forces of war crimes and atrocities against
Vaiko had said in his petition against the ban that the LTTE's objective of establishing a sovereign nation for Tamils in the island did not pose any threat to the territorial integrity of India, so a ban here was unlawful.
Terming the ban on the LTTE as illegal, Vaiko had said: "This ban could not be substantiated by law. So, with these grounds, I have requested their lordships to cast the order of the tribunal, to cast the order of the ban against LTTE."
Vaiko is known for his support to LTTE and other organisations, which have been protesting for a separate state of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
