Supreme Court refuses to lift ban on SIMI

New Delhi, Feb 15 (UNI) Refusing to lift the ban on Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the Supreme Court today said the organisation was still continuing with anti-national activities.

''You continue to be a secessionist movement. You have not stopped your activities till now,'' a bench comprising Justices S B Sinha and Markandey Katju told SIMI while hearing its petition for removal of the ban imposed on the organisation by the Central Government for its anti-national activities.

Counsel for the petitioner, however, contended that the SIMI was not indulging in any secessionist activity.

SIMI has appealed against the order dated August 7, 2006 passed by Justice B N Chaturvedi, presiding judge of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Tribunal which had confirmed the government notification dated February 8, 2006 banning SIMI.

The court ordered that the petition be tagged with two similar petitions already pending before it.

The SIMI has challenged a similar government notification dated September 27, 2001 and September 27, 2003.

The petitioner had challenged the ban on the grounds that it was violative of the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, right to assemble peacefully without arms, right to freedom of religion and right to life.

The court, however, did not agree and declined to issue notices on the petition.

UNI