SC notice to Government on petition challenging ban

New Delhi, Sep 15 (UNI) The Supreme Court today issued notices to the Centre on a petition filed by a banned organisation Deendar Anjuman challenging the order of the tribunal upholding the ban.

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Lokeshwar Singh Panta issued notices after hearing the counsel for the petitioner who contended that the organisation was not involved in any objectionable activities leave apart anti-national activities.

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal presided over by Justice R.C. Chopra had in its judgment dated November 14,2005 had upheld the order declaring the Deendar Anjuman as unlawful association under section 3 (1) of the Unlawful Activities Act,1967.

Deendar Anjuman is an association of Muslims that claims the heritage of Basawa or Basaweshwara , a non-Brahmin rebel of the shudra tradition of Karnataka.

Between May 21 and July 9,2000 twelve explosions were reported in southern states out of which 7 took place in Andhra Pradesh, four in Karnataka and one from Goa. According to the petitioner all the accused in these cases who were remotely connected with the petitioner association were acquitted.

First ban was imposed on the petitioner on April 28,2001.

The Tribunal headed by a high court judge upheld the ban on the grounds that there was sufficient material on record to justify the ban.

UNI AKS/SC RP RS1932