The Union government has imposed a ban on Muslim political organisation, the Popular Front of India (PFI) and several of its associates under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, for their alleged involvement in terror-related activities.

Besides PFI, the Centre also banned the Rehab India Foundation (RIF), the Campus Front of India (CF), the All India Imams Council (AIIC), the National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation (NCHRO), the National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and the Rehab Foundation, Kerala under UAPA.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had issued a notification on Tuesday night, stating that the PFI and its affiliates have been found to be involved in subversive activities and disturbing the public order.

Their acts undermine the country’s constitutional set-up and enforce a terror-based regressive regime, it added.

The notification further said that PFI and its affiliates continue to propagate anti-national sentiments and radicalise a particular section of society, with the intention to create “disaffection” against the country.

It added that in view of the above reasons, it was necessary to declare PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts to be an unlawful association with immediate effect.

The Ministry also said in the notification that some of the PFI’s founding members were leaders of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), while PFI also had linkages with the Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

Stating that both JMB and SIMI were proscribed organisations, the notification said that there had been many instances of international linkages of PFI with global terrorist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

It further claimed that PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to increase the radicalisation of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which was substantiated by the fact that some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations.

The Centre on Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that it has removed the name of a woman from blacklist, an Iranian Citizen, who wants to complete her studies in India and if she applies for a visa, the same shall be considered. 

The Delhi High Court recorded the same and disposed of the writ petition, which was filed by one Safri Hossain Masha, who had sought directions to Ministry of Home Affairs to remove her name from the blacklist and issue her a Student Visa, so as to enable her to complete her studies.

A Single-Judge Bench of Justice Rekha Palli directed the Ministry of Home Affairs, that as and when the petitioner applies for a visa, subject to completion of procedural formalities, should be considered preferably and expeditiously, within a period of three weeks from the date of application.

According to the counter-affidavit filed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the name of the petitioner has been removed from the Blacklist, after the expiry of the retention period on August 23 and therefore, the petitioner can apply for issuance of fresh visa, under appropriate category, according to the purpose of visit to India.

The petitioner had stated that MHA blacklisted her, without supplying her with the copy of the letter, wherein she was placed in the blacklist category and without an opportunity of a fair representation. She mentioned in the plea that she wanted to pursue her studies at Sharda University, but couldn’t apply for Visa due to the blacklisting order. 

The petition was filed by Advocates Karan S. Thukral, Kapil Nayyar and Gautam Mali

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today directed Patna High Court that the multiple FIRs filed in Bihar against Tablighi Jamaat members be consolidated and transferred to one court in the state.

The court was hearing a plea filed by 34 foreign nationals challenging the decision of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to blacklist over 3,000 of them from travelling to India for a period of 10 years.

The foreign nationals were facing trial for the alleged commission of offences under provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946, the Epidemic Diseases Act, the Disaster Management Act, 2005, as well provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The Centre has argued that “participating in Tablighi Jamaat activities” was a serious violation provisions of the Visa Manual, 2019 and is also a Criminal Offence punishable under Sections 13 and 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946.

The Apex Court has given a week’s time to the Patna High Court for deciding which Court will try the cases against the foreign nationals. 

It was further directed that the trials be completed within eight weeks, in line with the order pertaining to consolidating and trying the FIRs filed in Delhi expeditiously.

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The Uttar Pradesh Government is expected to file its reply to a similar intervention Application pertaining to FIRs filed in the state.

The matter has been adjourned to September 3.

-India Legal Bureau