A tribunal constituted under the UAPA Act, headed by Delhi High Court justice Sachin Datta, has upheld the central government’s decision to ban Jammu and Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM), declaring it an “unlawful association”.
While announcing the judgement, Justice Datta ruled that there was “ample justification” for declaring JKIM as an unlawful association and upheld the Ministry of Home Affairs’ March 11, 2025, notification under Section 3(1) of the UAPA.
“From the extensive material collected as part of the evidence on record in the proceedings, this Tribunal finds that there is enough evidence to declare the JKIM as an unlawful association. Additionally, the nature of the association and the activities performed by them justify the central government’s recourse to the proviso to Section 3(3) of the UAPA,” the order stated.
The tribunal also cited that material submitted in sealed cover, including FIRs, testimonies of Jammu and Kashmir officials, social media content, excerpts from JKIM’s websites, and intelligence reports. It said these clearly established the organisation’s separatist activities and collaborations with “inimical elements across the border”.
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The evidence suggests that JKIM engaged in efforts to “undermine the sovereignty and integrity of India,” Justice Datta ruled. He ruled that the counter-evidence submitted by the defendants lacked credibility and failed to present any concrete material to counter the claims.
During the hearing process, JKIM’s counsel raised apprehensions that upholding the ban could affect the religious activities of its chairman, Masroor Abbas Ansari, and other members. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs had declared JKIM an unlawful association on March 11, citing its involvement in secessionist activities.
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