SIMI ban lifted, govt fails to furnish enough evidence

LACK OF EVIDENCE: A Delhi HC tribunal lifts ban on SIMI as the govt failed to produce any evidences against it.

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Keywords: Ban, Delhi High Court

b> New Delhi: A Delhi High Court tribunal on Tuesday ordered the ban on the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) to be lifted. The court said the government has not furnished enough evidence to prove SIMI is an unlawful organisation.

The decision came as a shock for the intelligence and security agencies as the organisation was the prime suspect in the blasts of Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and even 7/11.

The court said the Home Ministry could not build a case to justify the ban. The Opposition has termed it the failure of the government to control terror.

In all the major blasts in India like blasts on a local train in Mumbai in July 2006, in Hyderabad’s famous Mecca masjid in May 2007 etc. it is always SIMI’s name which crops up. But now it seems the connection is at best vague. A Delhi High court tribunal on Tuesday refused to confirm a ban on SIMI because of lack of enough evidences.

“There is no evidence which is why the Center has not been able to produce it," said a lawyer, Trideep Pais.

The order is being seen as a major slap on the face of the UPA and more specifically Home Minister Shivraj Patil, whose ministry is being accused of making less effort to curb terrorism.

In its order the tribunal said, "You say that SIMI is connected to bomb blasts, riots, destructive activities. Place specific material before me, you cannot presume their involvement.''

Most of the evidence placed by the Centre before the court was in a sealed cover. In fact the Home Ministry says 53 fresh cases have been filed against SIMI in the past two years. The government justified the ban saying such organisations can be barred in anticipation of future blasts as well.

"The PM should ask for the Home Minister's resignation. The incompetence of the government has been exposed,” said BJP’s spokesperson, Rajiv Pratap Rudy.

The ban imposed by north block in February this year was the fourth since SIMI was first outlawed in 2001 under the unlawful activities prevention act. The Home Ministry is likely to go in for an appeal to the Delhi High Court. The three earlier bans on SIMI have been challenged in the Supreme Court.