SC extends SIMI ban by 6 weeks

The Supreme Court today extended the ban on the Students’ Islamic Movement of India, reports HT Correspondent.

The Supreme Court on Monday extended the ban on the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

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“We are extending the stay on the tribunal’s order by another six weeks,” said a bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan. It added that “the matter is important, we are ready to hear it”, and posted the hearing for September 24. It also asked the Centre to place before it a synopsis of arguments and other documents in support of its stand.

The Centre had challenged the tribunal’s order lifting the ban on SIMI. The tribunal, headed by Justice Gita Mittal of the Delhi High Court, had passed the order in July.

Former SIMI president Dr Shahid Badr opposed the order. His advocate Kamini Jaiswal, saying she was not appearing for the banned organisation but for Badr in his personal capacity, challenged the stay on the ground that it was granted a day after the tribunal passed its order, even when the Centre had not filed its special leave petition.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, however, said the stay was obtained after the Centre mentioned its appeal on urgent grounds. According to him, Badr’s lawyer was informed about the petition but he refused to accept it.