Delhi High Court judge Dinesh Kumar Sharma to head tribunal to review PFI ban

The Centre has appointed Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma of the Delhi High Court as presiding officer of the tribunal to review the five-year ban imposed on the Popular Front of India and its affiliate organisations. A notification to this effect was issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice on Thursday. Justice Sharma was elevated as a HC judge in February. He joined the Delhi Judicial Service in 1992 and was promoted to Delhi Higher Judicial Service in 2003.

"Chief Justice of Delhi High Court has nominated Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, judge to be appointed as the presiding officer of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal in the matter of Popular Front of India and its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation, Campus Front of India, All India Imams Council, National Confederation of Human Rights Organisation, National Women's Front, Junior Front Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala, for the purpose of adjudicating whether there is sufficient cause for declaring the organisations as unlawful associations," the notification said.

The Centre had on September 28 declared PFI as unlawful under Section 3 of UAPA and banned it for five years. As per UAPA, no such ban shall come into effect unless the same is confirmed by a tribunal by an order made under Section 4 of the Act.


The organisation has been accused of indulging in activities 'prejudicial to the integrity, sovereignty, and security of the country.'

The National Investigation Agency and ED have alleged that PFI raised funds abroad and transferred them to India through 'clandestine and illegal' channels. "PFI has been raising and collecting substantial funds from abroad in a well-organised and structured manner," they alleged.