New Delhi : The Central Government has appointed a judge of the UAPA Tribunal constituted to review the decision to ban the Popular Front of India (PFI). Delhi High Court judge Justice Dinesh Sharma has been appointed as the presiding officer of the UAPA Tribunal.
The central government had on September 28 banned the PFI and its affiliates for five years. The Central Government had imposed this restriction under the powers of Section 3(1) of the UAPA. The Central Government has also supported the associate organizations of PFI, Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AICC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation. and Rehab Foundation, Kerala.
Under the provisions of Section 3(1) of the UAPA, within 30 days from the date of notification of banning an organization, that notification is referred to the Tribunal, to examine whether there was sufficient cause for the ban. The Tribunal sends a notice to the concerned organization asking why it should not be declared an illegal organization. The notification of the Central Government has no meaning until the Tribunal upholds its notification as correct. Thereafter the order of the Tribunal is also published in the Official Gazette.
Justice Dinesh Sharma, who was appointed as the presiding officer of the UAPA Tribunal, was appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court on February 28.