The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a tribunal headed by a Delhi High Court judge to adjudicate whether there is sufficient cause for declaring the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) as a banned group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. On January 29, the Central Government had extended the ban on SIMI for five more years. In a gazetted notification issued on Friday, the officer said: “Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred. the Central government hereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the SIMI as an unlawful association.” The government had said the group has been involved in fomenting terrorism and disturbing peace and communal harmony. Ten states — Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, UP — have recommended declaring SIMI an unlawful association under the UAPA.
