Jharkhand High Court quashes ban on Popular Front of India

Jharkhand: The Jharkhand High Court on Monday quashed the State Government’s notification passed under section 16 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908 declaring the Popular Front of India (PFI) unlawful. Justice Rongon Mukhopadhyay said that the allegations against the organisation were vague and therefore quashed the notification.

The Court pronounced the judgment while hearing a petition filed by Abdul Wadud, general secretary of PFI, challenging the notification as well as the proceedings initiated against him and other members of the organization pursuant to the notification.

The Court observed that the State Government had not provided appropriate reasons for declaring the organization unlawful.

The judgment is being welcomed from Muslim quarters. Hailing the verdict of High Court general secretary All India Milli Council Dr Mohammed Manzoor Aalam said the judgment of the court is praiseworthy and based on facts. He said it has given relief to minorities, Dalits and backward classes and it has exposed the real face of BJP government which was stopping people from doing good on the basis of hate and prejudice.

National secretary Bangalore PFI Abdul Wahed Seth expressed happiness over the judgment and thanked the court. He said PFI is fighting for the rights of oppressed people of the society but communal forces are trying to weaken the organisation.