HC Upholds Right of PFI to challenge UAPA Ban

13 Oct 2025

By : Jagriti Sharma

Categories : Latest News

Recently, the Delhi High Court held that the Popular Front of India (PFI) can challenge the five-year ban imposed on it under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), declaring the petition maintainable. The Court issued notices to the Central government, seeking its response within six weeks, and scheduled the matter for hearing on January 20, 2026.

The ban, announced by the Union Home Ministry in September 2022, declared PFI and its affiliated organisations as unlawful, citing alleged links to terrorist activities and involvement in acts prejudicial to the country’s sovereignty and security. Several associated bodies, including the Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, and National Women’s Front, were also included under the notification.

Following the notification, the government conducted nationwide operations against PFI members, involving searches, detentions, and arrests. In March 2023, a UAPA tribunal, headed by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma of the Delhi High Court, upheld the government’s decision to impose the ban.

PFI initially approached the Supreme Court against the ban, but the plea was dismissed, and the organisation was directed to file a petition before the High Court. PFI argued that the tribunal’s order could be challenged under Article 226 of the Constitution, while the government contended that such a writ petition was not maintainable under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed that the High Court has the jurisdiction to hear petitions challenging the tribunal’s order under Section 4(1) of the UAPA, making the plea maintainable.

The Court has asked the Central government to file its counter within six weeks, with PFI allowed two weeks for a rejoinder, and listed the case for further hearing on January 20, 2026.