New Delhi: An Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Tribunal on Wednesday said that there is 'credible' evidence to declare the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF-Y), a faction headed by Yasin Malik, as an unlawful association and upheld the ban imposed by the Centre.
The Home Ministry in March 2019 had listed the organisation as an unlawful association, following which a tribunal, headed by Justice Chander Shekhar was constituted to adjudicate the same.
"The Central government had sufficient credible material and grounds for taking action for declaring 'JKLF-Y' as an 'unlawful association'. It is held that there is 'sufficient cause' to confirm the notification of the act declaring 'JKLF-Y' to be an 'unlawful association," Justice Chander Shekhar stated in the order.
While imposing the ban, the Centre said it was of the opinion that the JKLF is "in close touch with militant outfits" and is supporting extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere.
"A careful perusal of the FIRs brought on record makes it apparent that the Association has been actively indulging in and supporting anti-national activities," Justice Shekhar stated.
"There are statements attributed to Yasin Malik which are separatists in character and support extremism and militancy in Jammu and Kashmir. Such statements have the potential of instigating sentiments which ultimately become prejudicial to the territorial integrity and security of the country," it said.
According to the tribunal, the contentions put forth by the faction that the exercise of banning it is "vindictive in character or unconstitutional."
Yasin Malik is at present lodged in Delhi's Tihar jail and JKLF was declared unlawful days after the attack on a CRPF convoy in the suicide bombing terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. There are 37 cases being investigated by various agencies against JKLF.
