Centre constitutes tribunal under Delhi HC judge Sachin Datta to adjudicate if JKDFP should be declared banned group

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification on Monday announcing the constitution of the tribunal. The move comes days after the ministry earlier this month declared JKDFP an unlawful association.

"Whereas, Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) has been declared as an unlawful association, dated October 5, 2023, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii);

"Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 read with sub-section (1) of section 4 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby constitutes the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal consisting of Justice Sachin Datta, Judge, High Court of Delhi, for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party (JKDFP) as an unlawful association," reads the notification.

The MHA on October 5 declared JKDFP a banned group under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 for five years for its "anti-India" and "pro-Pakistan" activities.

Founded in 1998 by jailed separatist Shabir Ahmad Shah, the JKDFP was a constituent of the separatist amalgam Hurriyat Conference. After the division of the Hurriyat Conference in 2003, the JKDFP became a part of the hardline faction headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Shah is currently lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail.

He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 25 in 2017, in a 2005 money laundering case. He has also been chargesheeted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a terror-funding case.

In November last year, the Enforcement Directorate attached Shah's Srinagar house in connection with its money laundering probe linked to a case of fueling terror activities in Union territory. (ANI)