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Core Purpose

Declares Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Detailed Summary

This notification from the Ministry of Home Affairs declares the Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful association with immediate effect, citing activities prejudicial to India's integrity, sovereignty, and security. The AAC, chaired by Umar Farooq, is accused of supporting terrorist activities, promoting secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir, and disrespecting constitutional authority. The notification references multiple case crimes registered against Umar Farooq and other AAC members, including cases filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and local police stations in Srinagar, detailing charges under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The government asserts that AAC's activities include anti-national propaganda, inciting violence, and attempting to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India. This declaration, effective for five years, is made under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-11032025-261547 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 1106 NEW DELHI, TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2025/PHALGUNA 20, 1946 MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 11th March, 2025 S.O. 1115(E).—Whereas, the Awami Action Committee (hereinafter referred to as the AAC), chaired by Umar Farooq is indulging in unlawful activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country; And, whereas, members of the AAC have remained involved in supporting terrorist activities and anti-India propaganda for fuelling secessionism in Jammu and Kashmir; And, whereas, the leaders and members of AAC have been involved in mobilising funds for perpetrating unlawful activities, including supporting secessionist, separatist and terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir; And, whereas, the AAC and its members by their activities show sheer disrespect towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country; And, whereas, AAC is involved in promoting and aiding the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from India by involving in anti-national and subversive activities; sowing seeds of dis-affection amongst people; exhorting people to destabilise law and order; encouraging the use of arms to separate Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India and promoting hatred against established Government; And, whereas, the Central Government is of the opinion that AAC is indulging in the activities which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country, inter alia, on the following grounds, namely: - (1) National Investigation Agency has filed charge sheet against Aftab Ahmad Shah @ Shahid-ul-Islam (spokesman and media advisor of AAC) and 11 others before the NIA Special Court, Patiala House, New Delhi in RC 10/2017 on January 18, 2018 under sections 120B, 121, 121A and 124A of Indian Penal Code and sections 13, 16, 17, 18, 20, 39 and 40 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967; (2) Case Crime No. 96/2008 has been registered at Nowhatta Police Station, Srinagar under section 120B and 153 Ranbir Penal Code and section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against Umar Farooq for delivering a speech against the Government of India and for stressing upon the people for elections boycott etc; (3) Case Crime No. 128/2010 has been registered at Safakadal Police Station, Srinagar under section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against Umar Farooq and others for delivering a lecture and provoking the people against the Government and for raising anti-national slogans; (4) Case Crime No. 60/2010 has been registered at Kothi Bagh Police Station, Srinagar under section 436,153A, 109,147, and 336 of Ranbir Penal Code and section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against Umar Farooq, Mushtaq-ul-Islam, Nisar Ahmad Rather and Nisar Ahmad Bhat for shouting slogans against the integrity of India and for delivering a speech stating that they would struggle till Jammu and Kashmir is not separated from Union of India, and for also pelting stones; (5) Case Crime No. 56/2011 has been registered at Kothi Bagh Police Station, Srinagar under section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 against Umar Farooq, wherein, he supported the Hartal call given by Syed Ali Shah Geelani for 03 August, 2011 and for instigating the general people and the youth of valley for waging war against the sovereignty of India; And, whereas, the Central Government is further of the opinion that if there is no immediate curb or control of unlawful activities of the Awami Action Committee (AAC), it will use this opportunity to (i) continue with the anti-national activities which are detrimental to the territorial integrity, security and sovereignty of the country; (ii) continue advocating the secession of Jammu and Kashmir from the Union of India while disputing its accession to the Union of India; (iii) continue propagating false narrative and anti-national sentiments among the people of Jammu and Kashmir with the intention to cause disaffection against India and disrupt public order; and (iv) escalate secessionist movements, support militancy and incite violence in the country; And, whereas, the Central Government for the above mentioned reasons is firmly of the opinion that having regard to the activities of the Awami Action Committee (AAC), it is necessary to declare the Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful association with immediate effect; Now, therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby declares the Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful association; The Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of firm opinion that it is necessary to declare the Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful association with immediate effect, and accordingly, in exercise of the powers conferred by the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 3 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby directs that this notification shall, subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act, have effect for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. [F. No. 14017/2/2025/NI-MFO] ABHIJIT SINHA, Jt. Secy.

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