The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act Tribunal, led by Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, a sitting judge of the Delhi High Court, on January 3, upheld the Centre’s July 8 notification declaring terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun-led Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as an unlawful organisation for a period of five years.
SFJ was first declared an unlawful organisation in 2019, following the registration of 11 FIRs against it under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Representing the Centre, Additional Solicitor General S.D. Sanjay and advocate Rajat Nair presented details of an additional 111 FIRs filed against SFJ and its affiliates for terror-related activities between 2019 and 2024.
Justice Mendiratta found the evidence credible regarding SFJ’s connections with international Khalistani terror and separatist groups, including Babbar Khalsa International. The court also noted SFJ’s links with Pakistan’s ISI and their efforts to revive militancy in Punjab.
The tribunal found merit in the evidence presented by the Centre regarding SFJ’s activities, which included the recruitment and radicalisation of youth via social media, terror financing through smuggling networks to procure arms and explosives, issuing death threats to politicians, including the Prime Minister and Home Minister, and attempts to incite mutiny among Sikh soldiers in the Army.
In addition to evidence related to efforts to incite separatist activities and calls for burning the Tricolour, the Centre provided the tribunal with details of attempts and conspiracies aimed at targeting critical infrastructure, including power generation facilities and railways.
The Centre also presented details of attempts to disrupt events such as the G20 summit and activities aimed at challenging India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The evidence included testimonies from 52 witnesses. The tribunal proceeded with the case ex parte, as SFJ did not contest the evidence.
