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REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-18092025-266239
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 4106]
NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2025/BHADRA 27, 1947
6195 GI/2025
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 18th September, 2025
S.O. 4223(E).—Whereas, the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of
section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act),
declared the Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful association, vide notification of the Government of
India in the Ministry of Home Affairs, number S.O. 1115(E), dated the 11th March, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as the
said notification) published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), dated the 11th
March, 2025;
And, whereas, the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5
read with sub-section (1) of section 4 of the said Act constituted the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal
(hereinafter referred to as the said Tribunal) consisting of Justice Sachin Datta, Judge, High Court of Delhi, vide
notification of the Government of India in the Ministry of Home Affairs, number S.O. 1579(E), dated the 3rd April,
2025, published in the Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (ii), dated the 3rd April, 2025;
And, whereas, the Central Government in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 4 of
the said Act referred the said notification to the said Tribunal on 8th April, 2025 for the purpose of adjudicating
whether or not there was sufficient cause for declaring the Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful
association;
And, whereas, the said Tribunal in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (3) of section 4 of the said
Act, passed an order on 3rd September, 2025, confirming the declaration made in the said notification.
Now, therefore, in pursuance of sub-section (4) of section 4 of the said Act, the Central Government hereby
publishes the order of the said Tribunal, namely: -
“UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) TRIBUNAL,
NEW DELHI
Date of Decision: 03.09.2025
IN THE MATTER OF:
Gazette Notification No. S.O. 1115(E) dated 11th March, 2025 declaring the Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an
unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
AND IN THE MATTER OF:
Reference under Section 4(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 made to this Tribunal by the
Government of India through Ministry of Home Affairs vide Gazette Notification No. S.O. 1579 (E) dated
3rd April, 2025.
Present:
Ms. Aishwarya Bhati (ASG) along with Ms. Poornima Singh, Ms. Shreya Jain, Mr. Ketan Paul,
Mr. Sharath N. Nambiar, Mr. Shantnu Sharma, Mr. Aakarsh Mishra and Mr. Arkaj Kumar,
Advocates for Union of India.
Mr. Parth Awasthi, Advocate, Advocate for Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir along with
Mr. Suhaib Ashraf, Chief Prosecuting Officer, J&K.
Dr. Sumedh Kumar Sethi, Registrar (DHJS) Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal.
Ms. Samridhi Vats, Ms. Sanjana Lal and Ms. Sanya Sikri, Law Researchers.
Mr. Manoj Kumar Singh, Asstt. Director, Mr. Antariksh Singh Rathore, Asstt. Commandant
and Mr. Sameer Shukla, Asstt. Section Officer, Ministry of Home Affairs.
ORDER
1. This order answers the reference under Section 4(3) read with Section 3(3) of the Unlawful Activities
(Prevention) Act, 1967 (hereinafter referred to as the 'Act' or 'UAPA', for short) made to this Tribunal constituted
vide Gazette Notification No. S.O.1579 (E) dated 3rd April, 2025 under Section 5(1) of the Act issued by the
Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, for adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring
Awami Action Committee (hereinafter referred to as 'AAC' or 'association' or 'organisation' for short) as an
"unlawful association".
2. THE NOTIFICATION
I. The Central Government published Gazette Notification (extra-ordinary) No. S.O. 1115 (E) dated
11th March, 2025 in exercise of powers conferred under Section 3(1) of the Act and declared AAC to be an “unlawful
association". A copy of the said notification has been sent to this Tribunal, as contemplated under Rule 5(i) of the
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Rules, 1968 (“UAP Rules” in short). The said notification dated 11th March, 2025
reads as under:-
"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 RC10/2017 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 fordelivering 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 ofthe 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 waragainst the sovereignty of India;
And, whereas, the Central Governmentis further of the opinion that if there is no immediate curb or
control ofunlawful 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,
securityand 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) asan unlawful association;
The Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of firm opinion that it is
necessary todeclare the Awami Action Committee (AAC) as an unlawful association with immediate effect,
and accordingly, inexercise 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."
3. As can be seen, the notification also enumerates the reasons/circumstances, as contemplated under proviso to
Section 3(3) of the Act, for declaring the association as unlawful, with immediate effect.
II. THE BACKGROUND NOTE
4. Along with the reference to this Tribunal under Section 4 of the UAPA, the Central Government has
submitted and