SC Dismisses PFI Plea Challenging Five-Year Ban, Allows to Approach HC

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed the plea of the Popular Front of India (PFI) challenging the confirmation of a five-year ban imposed on it by the central government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi suggested that the PFI should have initially approached the high court to challenge the UAPA tribunal’s order. Senior advocate Shyam Divan, representing the PFI, concurred with the court’s view that the organization should have pursued the matter in the high court before seeking relief from the Supreme Court.

Consequently, the bench dismissed the plea but granted the PFI the opportunity to approach the high court. The PFI had contested the UAPA tribunal’s March 21 order, which upheld the central government’s decision from September 27, 2022, to ban the organization for five years. The ban was imposed based on allegations of the PFI’s connections with global terrorist organizations such as ISIS and its purported efforts to promote communal hatred in the country.