On July 15, 2025, the Supreme Court of India dismissed a plea filed by a former member of the banned organization, Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), which challenged the extension of the five-year ban on the group imposed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta heard the plea against the UAPA Tribunal’s order dated July 24, 2024, which had confirmed the Central Government’s January 2024 notification extending the ban on SIMI.
“Why are you here? Let the organization come,” the bench questioned orally when the petitioner’s counsel revealed that his client was a former member of SIMI.
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The counsel argued that despite SIMI being defunct, certain legal issues still required adjudication. He further requested the court to tag the present case with other similar matters pending before the Supreme Court.
However, the bench was not inclined to issue notice, pointing out that the petitioner had not participated in the Tribunal proceedings. Justice Nath inquired:
“Alright, how does it affect you then?”
When the petitioner’s counsel justified his locus by stating that previous tribunals had acknowledged his right to challenge orders against SIMI, the court maintained that such issues can be raised in the other pending appeals, not in the present petition.
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Background of SIMI Ban
SIMI was first banned in September 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks in the US. The ban has since been extended repeatedly due to SIMI’s alleged links to terrorism and activities threatening India's internal security.
In 2019, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued a notification extending the ban for five more years, listing 58 criminal cases involving SIMI members, including:
- Bodh Gaya bomb blast (2017)
- M Chinnaswamy Stadium blast in Bangalore (2014)
- Bhopal jailbreak (2014)
In August 2019, a UAPA Tribunal led by Delhi High Court's Justice Mukta Gupta upheld the extension.
Humam Ahmad Siddiqui, a former SIMI member, had earlier filed a petition in 2021 challenging the 2019 notification. In 2023, the Centre filed its response highlighting SIMI’s ideology which included:
“Establishment of Islamic system in my country”
“Jehaad for the cause of Islam”
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“Destruction of Nationalism and establishment of Islamic Rule or Caliphate”
The government argued that such aims were in direct conflict with India’s democratic and secular framework and justified the continued ban under the UAPA.
Case Title: Humam Ahmad Siddiqui vs Union of India and Anr., Diary No. 24110-2025