PFI Declared Unlawful Association under UAPA

On 22^nd September, 2022, the government declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its front organisations as an “unlawful association” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

About UAPA: Passed in 1967, the law aims at effective prevention of unlawful activities associations in India.

• It allows the government to declare an organisation an “unlawful association” or a “terrorist organisation”, which is often colloquially described as a “ban” on the organisations.

Consequences of being Declared Unlawful: Declaring an organisation an unlawful organization has serious consequences which include the criminalisation of its membership and the forfeiture of the properties of the organisation.

• Under Section 7 of the UAPA, the government has power to prohibit the use of funds of an unlawful association.
• Under Section 8, all places that are used by the unlawful association can be notified and seized.