Delhi HC tribunal upholds ban on SIMI

The tribunal announced its order in the judges chamber in the presence of Additional Solitior General (ASG) A S Chandhioke and SIMIs counsel Mobin Akhtar. The judgment has been sent in a sealed cover to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Earlier,the tribunal,constituted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act,had issued notices to SIMI and its functionaries,asking them to explain why the organisation and its activities should not be declared unlawful.

Under the law,the tribunal has to decide if there was sufficient cause to declare an organisation unlawful. The tribunal conducted its hearings in several cities

across India,including Delhi,Kochi and Bangalore,and took on record the testimonies of various police officers and others to adjudicate the issue.

The Delhi Police,in its arguments,had stated that the SIMI cadres were helping foment terror through front organisations like Indian Mujahideen (IM) and claimed that the links between SIMI and IM had been found after interrogation of the accused in the 2008 Delhi serial blasts.

The Centre had also justified its decision to extend the ban,stating such action was needed to bring the Muslim community into the mainstream by checking its disgruntled elements.