## Report on the Declaration of Unlawful Association: Popular Front of India (PFI) and Affiliates
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a government notification declaring the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associated organizations as unlawful associations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. The core purpose of this declaration, as inferred from the text, is to safeguard the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country, maintain public order, and prevent communal disharmony. Key findings indicate that the PFI and its affiliates are accused of engaging in unlawful and violent activities, possessing international terror linkages, and promoting radicalization, thereby posing a threat to national security and constitutional authority.
**2. Introduction:**
This report provides an informative overview of the government notification regarding the declaration of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates as unlawful associations. The analysis is based solely on the provided text of the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, dated September 27, 2022.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* This is a new policy declaration under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
* **Core Objective(s):** Based on the provided text, the core objectives of this declaration are to:
* Prevent activities prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country.
* Maintain public peace and communal harmony.
* Curb unlawful activities of the PFI and its associates.
* Prevent the undermining of the constitutional setup of the country.
* Prevent the propagation of anti-national sentiments and radicalization of specific sections of society.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This policy addresses the perceived threat posed by the PFI and its affiliates to national security and public order. The text suggests that the government believes the PFI and its associated organizations are involved in unlawful activities, including violent acts, raising and channeling funds for unlawful purposes, maintaining links to international terrorist groups, and promoting radicalization, thereby necessitating immediate action to prevent further disruption and harm.
**5. Key Provisions:**
This policy declaration, enacted under subsection 1 of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967, establishes the following:
* **Declaration of Unlawful Association:** The Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts are declared an unlawful association. The named associates include:
* Rehab India Foundation (RIF)
* Campus Front of India (CFI)
* All India Imams Council (AIIC)
* National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO)
* National Women's Front
* Junior Front
* Empower India Foundation
* Rehab Foundation, Kerala
* **Duration of the Declaration:** The declaration is effective for a period of five years from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, subject to any order made under section 4 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967.
* It also states the reasons for the ban including that the PFI:
* Is involved in criminal and terror cases and disrespects the constitutional authority of the country.
* Receives funds and ideological support from outside becoming a major threat to internal security.
* Has members who are repeatedly engaging in violent and subversive acts, including murder.
* Has activists that have joined ISIS and participated in terror activities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
* Office bearers and cadres conspire and raise funds from within India and abroad to carry out unlawful and terrorist activities.
* Has had their Income Tax registration cancelled due to the sources of deposits not being supported by the financial profiles of the account holders and the activities not being carried out as per their declared objectives.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this policy include:
* The Popular Front of India (PFI) and its listed associated organizations.
* Members and supporters of the PFI and its affiliates.
* The general public, particularly those communities where the PFI and its affiliates operate.
* Law enforcement agencies and government bodies responsible for implementing the ban.
* Socio-economic, educational, and political organizations that the PFI and its affiliates claimed to be associated with.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Ministry of Home Affairs is the responsible agency for issuing the notification. Law enforcement agencies and state governments are likely responsible for implementing the ban.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The declaration is effective immediately upon publication in the Official Gazette and lasts for five years. The text also mentions that the order is subject to any order that may be made under section 4 of the said Act. The specific procedures for implementing the ban are not detailed in the provided text.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of this policy declaration, as inferred from the provided text, include:
* Curbing the activities of the PFI and its affiliates that are deemed unlawful and a threat to national security.
* Preventing the radicalization of specific sections of society.
* Maintaining public order and communal harmony.
* Disrupting the funding and operational capabilities of the PFI and its affiliates.
* Reducing the perceived threat posed by the PFI and its affiliates to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country.
**9. Conclusion:**
The declaration of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and its affiliates as unlawful associations represents a significant government action aimed at addressing perceived threats to national security and public order. Based on the provided text, the policy is rooted in concerns about the PFI's alleged involvement in unlawful activities, international terror linkages, and promotion of radicalization. This declaration has significant implications for the PFI, its members and supporters, and the communities in which they operate. Its effectiveness will depend on the thoroughness and fairness of its implementation.
Key Entities Referenced
Uttar Pradesh: State Government that recommended to ban PFI.
Income Tax Act, 1961: Act under which the Income Tax Department cancelled the registration granted to PFI and Rehab India Foundation.
Sanjith, Kerala: Victim of murder in Kerala in November 2021.
V.Ramalingam, Tamil Nadu: Victim of murder in Tamil Nadu in 2019.
Nandu, Kerala: Victim of murder in Kerala in 2021.
Abhimanyu, Kerala: Victim of murder in Kerala in 2018.
Bibin, Kerala: Victim of murder in Kerala in 2017.
Sharath, Karnataka: Victim of murder in Karnataka in 2017.
R.Rudresh, Karnataka: Victim of murder in Karnataka in 2016.
Praveen Pujari, Karnataka: Victim of murder in Karnataka in 2016.
Sasi Kumar, Tamil Nadu: Victim of murder in Tamil Nadu in 2016.
Praveen Nettaru, Karnataka: Victim of murder in Karnataka in 2022.
Karnataka: State Government that recommended to ban PFI.
Gujarat: State Government that recommended to ban PFI.
Popular Front of India: An organization referred to as PFI, registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860. Declared as an unlawful association.
Societies Registration Act, 1860: Act under which the Popular Front of India was registered.
Delhi: Place where Popular Front of India was registered.
Rehab India Foundation: An associate/affiliate/front of the Popular Front of India (PFI), also declared as an unlawful association.
Campus Front of India: An associate/affiliate/front of the Popular Front of India (PFI), also declared as an unlawful association.
All India Imams Council: An associate/affiliate/front of the Popular Front of India (PFI), also declared as an unlawful association.
National Confederation of Human Rights Organization: An associate/affiliate/front of the Popular Front of India (PFI), also declared as an unlawful association.
National Womens Front: An associate/affiliate/front of the Popular Front of India (PFI), also declared as an unlawful association.
Junior Front: An associate/affiliate/front of the Popular Front of India (PFI), also declared as an unlawful association.
Empower India Foundation: An associate/affiliate/front of the Popular Front of India (PFI), also declared as an unlawful association.
Rehab Foundation, Kerala: An associate/affiliate/front of the Popular Front of India (PFI), also declared as an unlawful association.
Students Islamic Movement of India: Organization (SIMI) whose leaders are identified as founding members of PFI.
JamatulMujahideen Bangladesh: A proscribed organisation (JMB) with which PFI has linkages.
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria: Global Terrorist Group (ISIS) with which PFI has international linkages.
Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, 1967: Act under which the Central Government declared PFI and its associates as unlawful association.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
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असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—उप-खण्ड (ii)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 4370] नई दिल्ली, बुधिार, जसतम्ब र 28, 2022 आजश्ि न 6, 1944
No. 4370] NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022/ ASVINA 6, 1944
गहृ मत्रं ालय
अजधसचू ना
नई दिल् ली, 27 जसतम्बर, 2022
का.आ. 4559(अ).—िबदक, पॉपलु र फ्रंट ऑफ इंजडया (जिसे इसमें इसके पश् चात 'पीएफआई’ कहा गया ह)ै को
सोसाइटी रजिस्ट् रीकरण अजधजनयम, 1860 (1860 का 21) के अंतगगत पंिीकरण संख् या एस 226 जिला िजिण 2010 के
तहत दिल् ली में पंिीकृत दकया गया ा र हरहबै इंजडया फाउंडेिन (आरआईएफ)(पिं ीकरण संख्या 12,2द दिना क
17.02.2008)द कैंपस फ्रंट ऑफ़ इंजडया (सीएफआई)द आल इंजडया इमाम काउंजसल (एआईआईसी)द नेिनल कॉन्फ़ेडरेिन
ऑफ़ ह्यूमन राइट्स आगेनाईिेिन (एनसीएचआरओ) (पिं ीकरण संख्या एस-22,6द दिनाक 12.09.2010)द नेिनल
जिमेंस फ्रंटद िजू नयर फ्रंटद एम्पािर इंजडया फाउंडिे न (पिं ीकरण संख्या के सीएच-IV-001,0 2016-17द दिनाक
02.12.2016) र हरहबै फाउंडेिनद केरल (पिं ीकरण संख्या 1016 91) सजहत इसके कई सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध
संस्ट् ाएं या अग्रणी संगठन ह ैं;
र िबदक, अन्िेषण से पीएफआई र इसके सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं या अग्रणी संगठनों के बीच
स्ट्पष्ट सम्बन्ध स्ट् ाजपत हुआ ह;ै
र िबदकद हरहबै इंजडया फाउंडेिनद पीएफआई के सिस्ट्यों के माध्यम से धन िटु ाता ह ै र कैंपस फ्रंट ऑफ़
इंजडयाद एम्पािर इंजडया फाउंडिे नद हरहबै फाउंडिे नद केरल के कुछ सिस्ट्य पीएफआई के भी सिस्ट्य ह ैं त ा पीएफआई के
नेता िजू नयर फ्रंटद आल इंजडया इमाम काउंजसलद नेिनल कॉन्फ़ेडरेिन ऑफ़ ह्यूमन राइट्स आगेनाईििे न
(एनसीएचआरओ) र नेिनल जिमेंस फ्रंट की गजतजिजधयों की जनगरानी समन्िय करते ह;ैं
6498 GI/2022 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
र िबदक, पीएफआई ने समाि के जिजभन्न िगों िैसे युिाओंद छात्रोंद मजहलाओंद इमामोंद िकीलों या समाि के
कमिोर िगों के बीच अपनी पहुच को बढाने के उद्देश्य से उपरोक्त सहयोगी संगठनों या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं या अग्रणी संगठनों
की स्ट् ापना की ह ैजिसका एकमात्र उद्देश्य इसकी सिस्ट्यताद प्रभाि र फण्ड िटु ाने की िमता को बढ़ाना है;
र िबदक, उपरोक्त सहयोगी संगठनों या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं या अग्रणी संगठनों र पीएफआई के बीच
“हब र स्ट्पोक” िैसा संबध हदै जिसमें पीएफआई ‘हब’ के रूप में कायग करते हुए सहयोगी संगठनों या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं
या अग्रणी संगठनों की िनता के बीच पहुच र फण्ड िटु ाने की िमता का उपयोग जिजध जिरुद्ध दियाकलापों हते ु अपनी
िमता बढाने के जलए करता ह ै त ा ये सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाए ं या अग्रणी संगठन “िड़ र जिराओं” की
तरह भी कायग करते ह ैंजिनके माध्यम से पीएफआई को जनजध एिं िजक्त प्राप्त होती है;
र िबदकद पीएफआई र इसके सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाए ं या अग्रणी संगठन सािगिजनक तौर पर
एक सामाजिक-आर् कग र रािनीजतक संगठन के रूप में कायग करते ह ैं लेदकन ये गुप्त एिेंडा के तहत समाि के एक िग ग
जििेष को कट्टर बनाकर लोकतंत्र की अिधारणा को कमिोर करने की दििा में कायग करते ह ैं त ा ििे के संिैधाजनक
प्राजधकार र संिैधाजनक ढाच े के प्रजत घोर अनािर दिखाते ह;ैं
र िबदक, पीएफआई र इसके सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाए ं या अग्रणी संगठन जिजधजिरुद्ध
दियाकलापों में संजलप्त रह े ह,ैं िो ििे की अखंडता, सम् प्रभुता र सुरिा के प्रजतकूल ह ै र जिससे िांजत त ा
साम् प्रिाजयक सिभाि का माहौल खराब होने र िेि में उग्रिाि को प्रोत् साहन जमलने की आिकं ा ह;ै
र िबदक, पीएफआई के कुछ संस्ट् ापक सिस्ट्य स्ट् टूडट्ें स इस्ट्ल ाजमक मूिमेंट ऑफ इंजडया (जसमी) के नते ा रह े ह ैं
त ा पीएफआई का सम्बन्ध िमात-उल-मुिाजहिीन बांग्ल ाििे (िएे मबी) से भी रहा ह,ै ये िोनों संगठन प्रजतबजं धत संगठन
ह;ैं
र िबदक, पीएफआई के िैजिक आतंकिािी समूहोंद िैसे दक इस्ट्लाजमक स्ट्टेट ऑफ़ इराक एडं सीहरया
(आईएसआईएस)द के सा अंतराष्ट्रग ीय सम् पकग के कई उिाहरण ह;ैं
र िबदक, पीएफआई र इसके सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ायें या अग्रणी संगठनद चोरी-जछपे ििे म ें
असुरिा की भािना को बढ़ािा िके र एक समुिाय के कट्टरपं को बढ़ाने के जलए काम कर रह ेहदैं जिसकी पुजष्ट इस तथ्य से
होती ह ै दक इसके कुछ सिस्ट्य अंतरागष्टर ीय आतंकी संगठनों से िड़ु चकु े ह;ैं
र िबदक, केंद्रीय सरकार का यह मत ह ै दक उपयुगक्त कारणों के िजृ ष्टगत जिजधजिरुद्ध दियाकलाप (जनिारण)
अजधजनयम, 1967 (1967 का 27) की धारा 3 की उप-धारा (1) के अधीन अपनी िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करना आिश् यक ह,ै
जिसकी जनम्न जलजखत तथ्य ों से भी पुजष्ट होती ह;ै य ाद
i. पीएफआई कई आपराजधक र आतंकी मामलों में िाजमल रहा ह ै र यह ििे की संिैधाजनक प्राजधकार का
अनािर करता ह ैत ा बाह्य स्रोतों से प्राप्त धन र िैचाहरक सम गन के सा यह ििे की आंतहरक सुरिा के जलए
एक बड़ा खतरा बन गया हदै
ii. जिजभन्न मामलों में अन्िेषण से यह स्ट् पष्टट हुआ ह ै दक पीएफआई र इसके काडर बार-बार हहसं क र जिध् िंसक
कायों में संजलप्त रह े ह ै जिनम ें एक कॉलिे प्रोफेसर का हा काटना, अन् य धमों का पालन करने िाले संगठनों से
िड़ु े लोगों की जनमगम हत् या करना, प्रमुख लोगों र स्ट् ानों को जनिाना बनाने के जलए जिस्ट् फोटक प्राप्त करना,
सािगिजनक सम् पजि को नुकसान पहुचं ाना आदि िाजमल हदैं
iii. पीएफआई काडर कई आतंकिािी गजतजिजधयों र कई व्यजक्तयों य ा श्री संिीत (केरल, निम् बर, 2021),
श्री िी. रामहलंगम (तजमलनाडु, 2019), श्री नंि ू (केरल, 2021), श्री अजभमन् यु (केरल, 2018), श्री जबजबन
(केरल 2017), श्री िरत (कनाटग क 2017), श्री आर. रुद्रिे (कनाटग क 2016), श्री प्रिीण पिु ारी (कनाटग क 2016)
श्री िजि कुमार (तजमलनाडु, 2016) र श्री प्रिीण नि े ारू ( कनाटग कद 2022) की हत्या में िाजमल रह े ह ैं र
ऐसे अपराजधक कृत्य र िघन्य हत्याएंद सािगिाजनक िाजं त को भंग करने र लोगों के मन में आतंक का भय
पैिा करने के एकमात्र उद्देश्य से की गई हदै
iv. पीएफआई के िैजिक आतंकिािी समूहों के सा अंतरागष्ट्रीय सम् पकग के कई उिाहरण ह ैं र पीएफआई के कुछ
सिस्ट्य आईएसआईएस में िाजमल हुए ह ैं र सीहरया, ईराक र अफगाजनस्ट् तान में आतकं ी कायगकलापों में भाग
जलए ह ैं इनमें से पीएफआई के कुछ काडर इन संघषग िेत्रों में मारे गए र कुछ को राज्य पजु लस त ा केंद्रीय[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 3
एिजें सयों ने जगरफ्तार दकया इसके अलािा, पीएफआई का सम् पकग प्रजतबंजधत आतकं िािी संगठन िमात-उल-
मुिाजहिीन बांग् लाििे (िएे मबी) से भी रहा हदै
v. पीएफआई के पिाजधकारी र काडर त ा इससे िुड़ े अन् य लोग बैंिंकंग चैनल, हिाला, िान आदि के माध् यम से
सुजनयोजित आपराजधक षडयंत्र के तहत भारत के भीतर र बाहर से धन इकट्ठा कर रह ेह ैं र दफर उस धन को
िैध दिखाने के जलए कई खातों के माध्य म से उसका अंतरण, लेयररंग र एकीकरण करते ह ैंत ाद अंतत: ऐसे धन
का प्रयोग भारत में जिजभन् न आपराजधक, जिजधजिरुद्ध र आतकं ी कायों के जलए करते हदैं
vi. पीएफआई की ओर से उनसे सम्बंजधत कई बैंक खातों में िमा धन के स्रोत खाताधारकों के जित् तीय प्रोफाइल से
मेल नहीं खाते र पीएफआई के कायग भी उसके घोजषत उद्देश् यों के अनुसार नहीं पाए गएद इसजलए आयकर
जिभाग नेद आयकर अजधजनयमद 1961 ( 1961 का 3) की धारा 12-A या 12-AA के तहत माच,ग 2021 में
इसका पिं ीकरण रद्द कर दिया इन्हीं कारणों से द आयकर जिभाग नेद आयकर अजधजनयमद 1961 की धारा 12-A
या 12-AA के तहतद हरहबै इंजडया फाउन्डेिन के पिं ीकरण को भी रद्द कर दिया
vii. उि र प्रििे द कनाटग कद गुिरात राज्य सरकारों ने पीएफआई को प्रजतबजं धत करने की अनुिंसा की ह ै
र िबदक, पीएफआई र इसके सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाए ं या अग्रणी संगठन ििे में आतंक फैलान े
र इसके द्वारा राष्ट्र की सुरिा र लोक व्य िस्ट् ा को खतरे में डालने के इराि े से हहसं क आतंकी गजतजिजधयों में िाजमल
रह ेह ैं त ा पीएफआई की राष्ट्र- जिरोधी गजतजिजधया ं राज्य के संिैधाजनक ढ़ाचं े र सम् प्रभतु ा का अनािर र अिहले ना
करते ह,ैं र इसजलए इनके जिरुद्ध तत्क ाल र त्ि हरत कारगिाई अपेजित ह;ै
र िबदक, केंद्रीय सरकार का यह मत ह ै दक यदि पीएफआई र इसके सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं
या अग्रणी संगठनों के जिजधजिरुद्ध दियाकलापों पर तत् काल रोक अ िा जनयंत्रण न लगाया गयाद तो पीएफआई र
इसके सहयोगी संगठन या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाए ंया अग्रणी संगठन इस अिसर को जनम्न जलजखत हते ु प्रयोग करेंग े -
(i) अपनी जिध् िंसात्म क गजतजिजधयों को िारी रखेंगेद जिससे लोक व् यिस्ट् ा भंग होगी र राष्ट्र का संिैधाजनक
ढाचं ा कमिोर होगा;
(ii) आतकं आधाहरत पश्चगामी तंत्र (हरग्रेजसि हरिीम)को प्रोत्साजहत एिं लागू करेंगे;
(iii) एक िगग जििेष के लोगों में िेि के प्रजत असंतोष पैिा करने के उद्देश्य से उनमें राष्टर -जिरोधी भािनाओं को
भड़काना र उनको कट्टरिाि के प्रजत उकसाना िारी रखेंगे;
(iv) ििे की अखण् डताद सुरिा र सम् प्रभुता के जलए खतरा उत् पन् न करने िाली गजतजिजधयों को र तिे करेंग;े
र िबदक, केंद्रीय सरकार का उपयुगक् त कारणों की ििह से यह िढ़ृ मत है दक पीएफआई र इसके सहयोगी
संगठनों या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं या अग्रणी संगठनों की गजतजिजधयों को ध्य ान में रखते हुए, पीएफआई र इसके सहयोगी
संगठनों या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं या अग्रणी संगठनों को तत् काल प्रभाि से जिजधजिरुद्ध संगम घोजषत करना आिश् यक ह;ै
इसजलए अब, केंद्रीय सरकारद जिजधजिरुद्ध दियाकलाप (जनिारण) अजधजनयम, 1967 (1967 का 27) की धारा 2
की उप-धारा (1) द्वारा प्रित्त त िजक्तयों को प्रयोग करते हुए, एतद्द्वारा पॉपुलर फ्रंट ऑफ इंजडया (पीएफआई) र इसके
सहयोगी संगठनों या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं या अग्रणी संगठनोंद हरहबै इंजडया फाउंडेिन (आरआईएफ)द कैंपस फ्रंट ऑफ़ इंजडया
(सीएफआई)द आल इंजडया इमाम काउंजसल (एआईआईसी)द नेिनल कॉन्फ़ेडरेिन ऑफ़ ह्यूमन राइट्स आगेनाईिेिन
(एनसीएचआरओ)द नेिनल जिमेंस फ्रंटद िूजनयर फ्रंटद एम्पािर इंजडया फाउंडेिन र हरहबै फाउंडेिनद केरल सजहत को
“जिजधजिरुद्ध संगम” घोजषत करती ह;ै
र िबदक द उपयुगक् त पहरजस्ट् जतयों के सन्िभग में केंद्रीय सरकार का यह िढ़ृ मत ह ै दक पीएफआई र इसके
सहयोगी संगठनों या सम्बद्ध संस्ट् ाओं या अग्रणी संगठनों को तत्क ाल प्रभाि से जिजधजिरुद्ध संगम घोजषत करना आिश् यक
ह ै र उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 2 की उप-धारा (2) के परंतकु द्वारा प्रित्त िजक्तयों का प्रयोग करते हुए, केंद्रीय सरकार
एतद्द्वारा यह जनििे िते ी ह ै दक यह अजधसूचना, इसके रािपत्र में प्रकािन की जतज से पा च िषग की अिजध के जलए लाग ू
होगी, िो उक्त अजधजनयम की धारा 4 के तहत िारी दकए िाने िाले दकसी भी आिेि के अध्य धीन होगी
[फा. सं. 14017 2 2022-एनआई-एमएफओ]
प्रिीण िजिष्टठ , अपर सजचि4 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 27th September, 2022
S.O. 4559(E).—Whereas, the Popular Front of India (hereinafter referred to as the PFI) had been
registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) vide Registration No.
S/226/Dist.South/2010 in Delhi and it has many associates or affiliates or fronts, including Rehab India
Foundation (RIF) (Registration Number 1352, dated 17.03.2008) , Campus Front of India (CFI), All India
Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO) (Registration
Number S-3256, dated 12.09.2010), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation
(Registration Number KCH-IV-00150/2016-17, dated 02.12.2016) and Rehab Foundation, Kerala
(Registration Number 1016/91);
And Whereas, the investigations have established clear linkages between PFI and its associates or
affiliates or fronts;
And Whereas, Rehab India Foundation collects funds through PFI members and some of the
members of the PFI are also members of Campus Front of India, Empower India Foundation, Rehab
Foundation, Kerala, and the activities of Junior Front, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of
Human Rights Organization (NCHRO) and National Women’s Front are monitored/coordinated by the PFI
leaders;
And Whereas, the PFI has created the above mentioned associates or affiliates or fronts with
objective of enhancing its reach among different sections of the society such as youth, students, women,
Imams, lawyers or weaker sections of the society with the sole objective of expanding its membership,
influence and fund raising capacity;
And Whereas, the above associates or affiliates or fronts have a ‘Hub and Spoke’ relationship with
the PFI acting as the Hub and utilizing the mass outreach and fund raising capacity of its associates or
affiliates or fronts for strengthening its capability for unlawful activities and these associates or affiliates or
fronts function as ‘roots and capillaries’ through which the PFI is fed and strengthened;
And Whereas, the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts operate openly as socio-economic,
educational and political organization but, they have been pursuing a secret agenda to radicalize a particular
section of the society working towards undermining the concept of democracy and show sheer disrespect
towards the constitutional authority and constitutional set up of the country;
And Whereas, the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been indulging in unlawful
activities, which are prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty and security of the country and have the
potential of disturbing public peace and communal harmony of the country and supporting militancy in the
country;
And Whereas, some of the PFI’s founding members are the leaders of Students Islamic Movement
of India (SIMI) and PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), both of which are
proscribed organisations;
And Whereas, there had been a number of instances of international linkages of PFI with Global
Terrorist Groups like Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS);
And Whereas, the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been working covertly to
increase radicalization of one community by promoting a sense of insecurity in the country, which is
substantiated by the fact that the some PFI cadres have joined international terrorist organisations;
And Whereas, the Central Government is of the opinion that it is necessary to exercise its powers
under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, (37 of 1967)
(hereinafter referred to as the Act) in view of the above stated reasons, which is substantiated by the
following facts; namely,
(i) the PFI is involved in several criminal and terror cases and shows sheer disrespect towards the
constitutional authority of the country and with funds and ideological support from outside it has
become a major threat to internal security of the country,[भाग II—खण् ड 3(ii)] भारत का रािपत्र : असाधारण 5
(ii) investigations in various cases have revealed that the PFI and its cadres have been repeatedly
engaging in violent and subversive acts. Criminal violent acts carried out by PFI include chopping-
off limb of a college professor, cold blooded killings of persons associated with organisations
espousing other faiths, obtaining explosives to target prominent people and places and destruction
of public property,
(iii) the PFI cadres have been involved in several terrorist acts and murder of several persons, including
Sh. Sanjith (Kerala, November, 2021), Sh. V.Ramalingam, (Tamil Nadu, 2019), Sh. Nandu,
(Kerala, 2021), Sh. Abhimanyu (Kerala, 2018), Sh. Bibin (Kerala, 2017), Sh. Sharath (Karnataka,
2017), Sh. R.Rudresh (Karnataka, 2016), Sh. Praveen Pujari (Karnataka, 2016), Sh. Sasi Kumar
(Tamil Nadu, 2016) and Sh. Praveen Nettaru (Karnataka, 2022) and the above criminal activities
and brutal murders have been carried out by PFI cadres for the sole objective of disturbing public
peace and tranquility and creating reign of terror in public mind,
(iv) there had been a number of instances of international linkages of PFI with Global Terrorist Groups
and some activists of the PFI have joined Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and participated in
terror activities in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Some of these PFI cadres linked to ISIS have been
killed in these conflict theaters and some have been arrested by State Police and Central Agencies
and also the PFI has linkages with Jamat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a proscribed terrorist
organization,
(v) the Office bearers and cadres of the PFI along with others are conspiring and raising funds from
within India and abroad through the banking channels, and the hawala, donations, etc. as part of a
well-crafted criminal conspiracy, and then transferring, layering and integrating these funds
through multiple accounts to project them as legitimate and eventually using these funds to carry
out various criminal, unlawful and terrorist activities in India,
(vi) the sources of deposits on behalf of PFI with respect to its several bank accounts were not
supported by the financial profiles of the account holders and the activities of PFI were not being
carried out as per their declared objectives and therefore, the Income Tax Department cancelled the
registration granted to PFI under section 12A or 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961).
The Income Tax Department also cancelled the registration granted to Rehab India Foundation
under section 12A or section 12AA of the Income Tax Act, 1961,
(vii) the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat have recommended to ban PFI.
And Whereas, the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts have been involved in the violent
terrorist activities with an intent to create a reign of terror in the country, thereby endangering the security
and public order of the state, and the anti-national activities of PFI disrespect and disregard the
constitutional authority and sovereignty of the state and hence an immediate and prompt action is required
against the organisation;
And Whereas, the Central Government is of the opinion that if there is no immediate curb or
control of unlawful activities of the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts, the PFI and its associates
or affiliates or fronts, will use this opportunity to –
(i) continue its subversive activities, thereby disturbing public order and undermining the
constitutional set up of the country;
(ii) encourage and enforce terror based regressive regime;
(iii) continue propagating anti-national sentiments and radicalize a particular section of society with
the intention to create disaffection against the country;
(iv) aggravate activities which are detrimental to the integrity, security and sovereignty of 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 PFI, it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates or
affiliates or fronts to be unlawful association with immediate effect;6 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(ii)]
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
Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation
(RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human
Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and
Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an “unlawful association”;
And Whereas, the Central Government, having regard to the above circumstances, is of firm
opinion that it is necessary to declare the PFI and its associates or affiliates or fronts 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. 14017/3/2022-NI-MFO]
PRAVEEN VASHISTA, Addl. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.