Says MHA has sufficient material for immediate ban, which is in interest of sovereignty and integrity of public order
The Delhi High Court (HC) on Thursday upheld the Centre's decision to ban Muslim evangelist Zakir Naik's organisation the Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva who was hearing the matter dismissed Naik's plea against the immediate ban observing that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had "sufficient material for immediate ban."
On November 17, 2016, the MHA had banned IRF for five years under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Contesting the ban in January, Senior Advocate Dinesh Mathur representing IRF submitted that the ban was imposed without "any application of mind on the part of the government authorities." The petition further contended that "the impugned notification, in fact, discloses no grounds or conclusions that have been drawn from any facts and material that was before the government to sustain its decision."
However, the Centre had placed sufficient material before the court to back its decision. While upholding the notification, the court observed that, "Not only is the material available in the records of the Central government but the reasons for exercise of power have been disclosed in the notification." The 17-page order further read, "Immediate action appears to have been taken in interest of sovereignty, integrity and maintenance of public order."
During arguments, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, representing the Narendra Modi-led government, expressed the Centre's apprehension that the youth were being radicalised by the statement and speeches made by the banned organisation including its chief Zakir Naik. Hence, an immediate ban was necessary.
Jain added that a FIR had been lodged in Mumbai booking six IRF members on basis of a complaint made by a Kerala man who alleged that his son was influenced to join the banned terror outfit ISIS after hearing the speeches made by Naik.
This matter is also being heard by a tribunal set up under UAPA.
Who is zakir naik?
Controversial speaker Zakir Naik was in the eye of the storm after it emerged that some Bangladeshi terrorists listened to his sermons. The Mumbai-based preacher has often been controversy's child for a host of comments. A medical doctor by profession, Zakir Naik is a scholar on comparative religion and president of the Islamic Research Foundation and claims he brings clarity about Islam to Muslims and non-Muslims. Similar to the Christian televangelists in America, he owns Peace TV which he claims has a viewership of 100 million.
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