Banned PFI moves Supreme Court challenging Centre’s ‘unlawful association’ declaration under UAPA
New Delhi : Banned Popular Front of India (PFI), an organisation previously declared an “unlawful association” by the Central government, has escalated its legal battle by taking its case to the country’s apex judicial body, the Supreme Court. The move follows the decision by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) Tribunal to affirm the government’s stance on PFI’s unlawful status. According to sources, this critical legal dispute is currently scheduled for a hearing today in the Supreme Court.
The saga began last year when the Central government, on September 27, 2022, through an official notification, declared the PFI and all its associated or affiliated entities as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), banning it for a period of five years. In response, the organisation approached the UAPA Tribunal to contest the government’s ban.
However, the turning point in this legal tussle came on March 21 of this year when the UAPA Tribunal reasserted the government’s decision to ban the PFI. Legal representatives involved in the case revealed that the Tribunal cited the involvement of the banned group and its affiliated members in activities of a secessionist nature that posed a threat to the social fabric of the nation. To substantiate the ban on the group, the Central government presented its case with the examination and testimony of 100 witnesses, as well as the screening of two videos showcasing the activities of the organisation and its members.
Ban on PFI
The PFI’s troubles began in September 2022 when law enforcement agencies conducted a nationwide crackdown against the group, leading to the arrest of over a hundred of its members and the seizure of multiple properties. Following these operations, the Union Home Ministry formally declared the PFI and its affiliated entities an “Unlawful Association.”
The Home Ministry’s notification pointed to serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted acts of violence, disregard for the constitutional framework of the country, and the disruption of public order. These activities, it argued, were prejudicial to the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the nation.
The Ministry’s statement also highlighted the PFI’s ties to the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), an organization with founding members who were instrumental in the PFI’s inception, and the Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are proscribed entities. The notification further cited instances of international linkages between the PFI and global terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
It is essential to mention that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed multiple chargesheets in the case, alleging that some of the leaders of the banned group were actively involved in promoting enmity between religious groups in India. The NIA claimed that they indoctrinated vulnerable Muslim youth by convincing them that Islam was under threat in the country and that it was imperative for PFI cadres and the community to arm themselves to protect Islam and establish Islamic rule in India by the year 2047.
