The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by Popular Front of India (PFI) challenging its designation as an 'unlawful' association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)..A Bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi remarked that the organisation should approach the concerned High Court first. Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, who appeared for the PFI, agreed with the same..The top court was hearing the banned organisation's appeal against a UAPA Tribunal order passed in March this year.The Tribunal, presided by Delhi High Court judge Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, had upheld the Central government's decision to impose a five-year ban on PFI and its affiliate organizations.The Central government had on September 28, 2022 declared PFI as an unlawful association under Section 3 of the UAPA. The organisation was accused of indulging in 'unlawful activities' which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country.The UAPA provides that no such ban shall come into effect unless the same is confirmed by the UAPA Tribunal by an order passed under Section 4 of the Act.In October 2022, the Centre had notified the appointment of Justice Sharma as the presiding officer of the UAPA Tribunal to review the ban.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a plea filed by Popular Front of India (PFI) challenging its designation as an 'unlawful' association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA)..A Bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi remarked that the organisation should approach the concerned High Court first. Senior Advocate Shyam Divan, who appeared for the PFI, agreed with the same..The top court was hearing the banned organisation's appeal against a UAPA Tribunal order passed in March this year.The Tribunal, presided by Delhi High Court judge Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, had upheld the Central government's decision to impose a five-year ban on PFI and its affiliate organizations.The Central government had on September 28, 2022 declared PFI as an unlawful association under Section 3 of the UAPA. The organisation was accused of indulging in 'unlawful activities' which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country.The UAPA provides that no such ban shall come into effect unless the same is confirmed by the UAPA Tribunal by an order passed under Section 4 of the Act.In October 2022, the Centre had notified the appointment of Justice Sharma as the presiding officer of the UAPA Tribunal to review the ban.