Centre Delegates UAPA Powers To States, UTs In Relation To Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Ban

The MHA had declared Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, a separatist amalgam founded by deceased leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, as an unlawful association on December 31, 2023.

New Delhi: The Central government Thursday delegated the powers under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) to States and Union Territories in relation with the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir-based separatist outfit Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH).

As per an official notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the anti-terror law can now be used by State governments as well as Union Territory administrations when dealing with cases related to the ban on the TeH.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 42 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Central Government hereby directs that all powers exercisable by it under section 7 and section 8 of the said Act shall also be exercised by the State Governments and the Union Territory Administration in relation to the above said unlawful association,” reads the MHA notification.

The Section 7 of the UAPA is related to power to prohibit the use of funds of an unlawful association and the Section 8 is related to power to notify places used for the purpose of an unlawful association.

The MHA had declared Tehreek-e-Hurriyat as an unlawful association on December 31, 2023. Considered a hardline pro-Pakistan amalgam of separatist groups in the erstwhile state, the TeH was founded by late separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.

The ‘Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, J&K (TeH) has been declared an 'Unlawful Association' under UAPA.
The outfit is involved in forbidden activities to separate J&K from India and establish Islamic rule. The group is found spreading anti-India propaganda and continuing terror activities to…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 31, 2023

Centre asks J-K Admin to seize TeH, Muslim League assets

Earlier today, the Centre directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to seize all assets and freeze bank accounts and finances belonging to the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir headed by separatist Masarat Alam.

Alam’s Muslim League was also recently banned by the government.

Issuing two identical notifications, the Union Home Ministry said the Muslim League Jammu Kashmir (Masarat Alam faction) was declared unlawful outfit on December 27, 2023 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and the Tehreek-e-Hurriyat, Jammu and Kashmir (TeH) was banned on December 31, 2023 under the same law.

TeH banned for five years

While declaring the TeH outlawed for five years, the home ministry had said it was fomenting terrorism and spreading anti-India propaganda in the Union Territory.

The objective of the TeH is to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India and establish Islamic rule in Jammu and Kashmir, it said.

The group was founded by Geelani, who was succeeded by Masarat Alam Bhat. Bhat is also known for his anti-India and pro-Pakistan propaganda. Bhat is currently in jail.

Bhat’s outfit Muslim League Jammu Kashmir, which he heads, was also declared a banned organisation by the government for its involvement in anti-national and secessionist activities in Jammu and Kashmir.

The home ministry had said the outfit and its members are involved in anti-national activities in Jammu and Kashmir, supporting terrorist activities.

(With PTI inputs)