Delhi HC judge to head tribunal on Jamaat ban

The Government of India on Saturday constituted a tribunal to decide whether there is sufficient cause for declaring the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir as an unlawful association.

The Ministry of Home Affairs today ordered that the tribunalwould be headed by Justice Mukta Gupta, a judge of the Delhi High Court. “Inexercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 of theUnlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Governmenthereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting ofJustice Mukta Gupta, High Court of Delhi, constituted, vide, notificationnumber S.O. 931 (E), dated the 21st February, 2019, for the purpose ofadjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring theJamaat-e-Islami (JeI) Jammu and Kashmir as an unlawful Association,” reads thenotification issued by the MHA.

   

A tribunal headed by Gupta is already adjudicating whetherthere is sufficient cause for declaring the Students Islamic Movement of India(SIMI) as an unlawful association after a fresh ban was imposed on theorganization.

On February 28, the Government of India imposed a five yearban on JeI, citing that it is “in close touch with militants.”

The ban, which came intoeffect immediately, is subject to outcome of decision by the tribunal. Anofficial, wishing not to be named, told Greater Kashmir that wheneverany organization is banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, theCentral Government has to constitute a tribunal to adjudicate whether there issufficient cause for declaring it as an unlawful organization. “As per legalrequirements, the tribunal will serve a notice to JeI asking them to givereasons on why it should not be declared unlawful,” he said, adding that thetribunal can either confirm the ban or cancel the same.

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