SC refers plea challenging SIMI ban renewal to larger bench

The Supreme Court Friday referred to a larger bench a petition challenging the latest renewal of the ban on the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

The bench of Chief Justice R.M. Lodha and Justice Kurian Joseph directed the listing of the matter before a larger bench of three judges, and said the matter would come up for hearing Aug 12.

The ban is in continuation of the same imposed on the organisation in 2001.

The petition by former SIMI member Humam Ahmad Siddiqui challenged the latest renewal of the ban on the organisation in February this year.

The last renewal was in February 2012.

Allowing Additional Solicitor General K.V. Vishwanathan to file a reply to the latest plea by Siddiqui, the court also allowed time to petitioner Siddiqui to file his response to the central government's reply.

The court is already seized of Siddiqui's 2012 petition challenging the constitutional validity of the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, under which the SIMI has been under continuous ban since September 2001.

The court had May 7, 2012, issued notice to the Centre on Siddiqui's plea challenging the validity of the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Directing the listing of the matter for Aug 12, the court tagged the latest plea by Siddiqui with his earlier pleas moved in 2011 and 2012, challenging the ban.