Supreme Court brings back ban on SIMI

New Delhi, Aug 6: Supreme Court of India on Wednesday, Aug 6 stayed an anti-terror tribunal ruling that had lifted the ban on the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). SIMI is designated as a terror organisation by the government. On Tuesday, Aug 5, a special tribunal of Delhi HC had lifted the ban on the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), saying that the government had failed to provide sufficient evidence to justify continued curbs on the fundamentalist group.

The ruling was given by Justice Gita Mittal, who said that the Centre"s order of February 7 extending the ban on SIMI beyond the six months the tribunal was given to determine its validity was not backed by 'fresh' evidence. "The material given by the Home Ministry is insufficient, so the ban cannot be continued," Mittal had said in her 267-page order that was given to Home Ministry late Tuesday in a sealed cover.

A Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice A K Mathur suspended the tribunal's ruling on an urgent plea by the government, which said: 'Irrecoverable damage will be done' to the country's steps against terrorist activities if the ruling was not suspended.

Justice Geeta Mittal of the Delhi High Court who heads the anti-terror tribunal constituted under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act had on Tuesday, Aug 5 lifted the ban on SIMI activities.

The lifting of the ban had sent shock waves among the intelligence and police officials in the country.

OneIndia News