The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal confirmed the Central Government’s decision to extend the ban on Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for five years under the UAPA, citing evidence of its links to Khalistani terror groups, Pakistan’s ISI, and its role in inciting militancy, recruiting youth, targeting infrastructure, and disrupting national events. The tribunal found SFJ’s activities a direct threat to India’s national security, supported by testimonies, videos, and documents, concluding the ban was justified.
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NEW DELHI: The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has confirmed the Central Government’s decision to continue the ban on the organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for five more years, labeling it an unlawful association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The Central Government had first declared SFJ as unlawful in July 2024, extending its ban for an additional five years. According to the UAPA, such bans require confirmation from a tribunal under Section 4 of the Act to remain valid.
The tribunal, led by Delhi High Court Judge Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, stated that there is strong evidence showing SFJ’s links with Khalistani terror groups like Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Tiger Force, as well as its ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). It found that these associations were aimed at reviving militancy in Punjab.
The tribunal pointed out that SFJ has been actively recruiting and radicalizing youth through social media platforms, funding terrorist operations via smuggling networks, and issuing threats to Indian leaders, including the Prime Minister and Home Minister.
Evidence also revealed a sharp increase in SFJ’s unlawful activities between 2019 and 2024. The organization, initially declared unlawful in 2019, was linked to 11 FIRs at that time. By 2024, the number of FIRs against SFJ had surged to 122, showcasing a rapid rise in its illegal activities over five years.
SFJ was also involved in inciting mutiny among Sikh soldiers in the Indian Army and orchestrating acts of vandalism to promote the Khalistan ideology. The group targeted key infrastructure, including power plants and railways, and even attempted to disrupt major national events like the G20 Summit.
The tribunal noted that SFJ extensively used cyber and social media platforms to advance its separatist agenda. Automated calls and videos were tools for spreading propaganda, issuing threats, and promoting actions such as burning the Indian flag and disrupting significant events.
The evidence presented before the tribunal included detailed testimonies from 52 witnesses, including senior police and intelligence officials. These were backed by videos, documents, and direct admissions by SFJ’s leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The tribunal concluded that SFJ’s activities posed a severe threat to India’s national security. It declared that SFJ’s operations violated both the UAPA and the Indian Constitution, thereby supporting the government’s ban on the organization.
Legal representation for the Union of India in this matter was provided by Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay and advocate Rajat Nair.
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