Jama’at ban: Tribunal examines 2 official witnesses

The Tribunal headed by Justice Chander Shekhar of Delhi High Court on Friday concluded its three day proceedings conducted here with regard to the ban on socio-religious organization Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir.    

 The Tribunalconcluded the in-camera proceedings it held on 19, 20 and 21 June at Srinagarwing of the High Court and recorded statements of two ‘protected witnesses’produced by the Government of India.  TheTribunal will now conduct the proceeding at Delhi High Court on June 29.

   

“Two protected witnesses produced be the central Governmentdeposed before the Tribunal.  But nopublic witness deposed before it during last three days,” a source privy to theproceedings said. “A public witness presented himself before the Tribunal butthe Tribunal said it will decide on the veracity of the affidavit which he hassubmitted only after hearing the parties on June 29 during the proceedings atDelhi High Court”.  

The presiding officer has directed the Union Government toproduce at least three witnesses on June 29 during its proceeding at Delhi HighCourt.  

 While AdditionalSolicitor General of India, Sanjay Jain, appeared on behalf of Government ofIndia, advocate Rajat Kumar along with advocate Syed Mehraj Azim representedJamat-e-Islami. 

 In an order onFebruary 28 this year, the Government of India banned the socio-religiousorganisation. The ban order, issued by the Union Home Ministry had said thatJama’at has been “indulging in activities which are prejudicial to internalsecurity and public order and has potential of disrupting the unity andintegrity of the country”.

On March 25, Mehraj Azeem, an ex-member of Jama’atpetitioned High Court against the ban. “The government of India declared JeI J&K as unlawful associationwith immediate effect without specifying the grounds as is mandated underSection 3(2) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967,” Azeem said in hisplea.

The Court has directed Union Ministry of Home Affairs torespond to the petition by April 22.

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