Delhi High Court Seeks NIA's Response On Plea For Copy Of FIR Lodged Against PFI Members

the Delhi High Court today sought the NIA's response on a plea seeking a copy of the FIR registered against alleged members of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) in the case registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).

Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta issued the notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on a petition filed by one Mohd Yusuff, who was arrested from his residence in Chennai on September 22 in the case lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The High Court has listed the matter for further hearing on October 10.

Central Government had on September 27, issued a notification declaring the PFI and eight of its affiliate organisations as "unlawful association" under section 3 of UAPA.

The Center had in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said UAPA, made the declaration with immediate effect. Hence, though the declaration is already in effect, it still requires confirmation by the Tribunal constituted under Section 5 of UAPA. The Tribunal has to decide whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the organisations to be unlawful, within a period of six months.

The Ministry of Law & Justice then appointed Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma of the Delhi High Court, as nominated by the Chief Justice of the High Court, as the presiding officer of the UAPA Tribunal in the matter of the ban on PFI and its affiliate organisations.