The government of India has empowered the Jammu and Kashmir government to prohibit use of funds and spaces by the socio-religious organisation Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned by the union ministry of home affairs a day earlier.
In a notification issued Thursday evening, the MHA has directed that all powers exercisable by it under sections 7 and 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act shall also be exercised by the government of Jammu and Kashmir in relation to the Jamaat-e-Islami.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the central government hereby directs that all powers exercisable by it under section 7 and section 8 of the said Act shall be exercised also by the government of Jammu and Kashmir in relation to the above said unlawful association (sic),” the notification reads.
While section 7 of the law is related to powers to prohibit use of funds of an unlawful organisation, the section 8 empowers the government to notify the places including buildings used by such an organisation to prevent their use for its activities.
Alleging that the JeI was “in close touch with militant outfits” and expected to “escalate secessionist movement” in Jammu and Kashmir, the MHA imposed a five-year ban on the organisation, days after scores of its members were arrested in a massive crackdown by the police.