LI Network
Published on: November 06, 2023 at 13:33 IST
The Supreme Court, on Monday, declined to hear a plea filed by the Popular Front of India (PFI) challenging its classification as an ‘unlawful’ association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi, part of the bench, suggested that the organization should first approach the relevant High Court.
Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, representing the PFI, concurred with the court’s suggestion.
The case before the Supreme Court involved the banned organization’s appeal against a UAPA Tribunal order issued in March of the current year.
The UAPA Tribunal, presided over by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma of the Delhi High Court, had upheld the Central government’s decision to impose a five-year ban on the PFI and its affiliated organizations.
On September 28, 2022, the Central government had declared the PFI an unlawful association under Section 3 of the UAPA, accusing the organization of engaging in ‘unlawful activities’ detrimental to the country’s integrity, sovereignty, and security.
The UAPA stipulates that such a ban can only take effect after confirmation by the UAPA Tribunal through an order issued under Section 4 of the Act.
In October 2022, the Centre had appointed Justice Sharma as the presiding officer of the UAPA Tribunal to review the ban.