Justice Sachin Datta to head panels

Nasir Azam

The Union Home Ministry has constituted two tribunals under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for the purpose of adjudicating whether there is sufficient cause for banning Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and Muslim League (Masrat Alam faction).

The MHA has constituted two tribunals for the purpose of adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for banning Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and Muslim League (Masrat Alam faction).

According to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), two separate notifications were issued by the MHA on Monday and Tuesday to constitute the tribunals. Both the tribunals would be headed by Justice Sachin Datta of Delhi High Court.

The Muslim League headed by jailed separatist leader Masrat Alam Bhat was banned on December 27 for being involved in “anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda.” The MHA said that the objective of the outfit was to “get freedom of Jammu and Kashmir from India” and “realise its merger with Pakistan and establish Islamic State in Jammu & Kashmir.”

On December 31, the MHA declared Tehreek-e-Hurriyat an ‘Unlawful Association’ under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The organisation was earlier headed by deceased separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the outfit was involved in “forbidden activities to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India and establish Islamic rule.” “The group is found spreading anti-India propaganda and continuing terror activities to fuel secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said—(KNO)