New Delhi, In a recent development, the Indian government led by Narendra Modi has established a tribunal to provide legal justification for its decision to ban Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Jammu and Kashmir (TeH), an organization founded by Syed Ali Gilani Shaheed. This move comes amid ongoing tensions in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir region.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the tribunal was formed on Tuesday with the appointment of a Delhi High Court judge, specifically selected by the government. The purpose of this tribunal is to obtain a favorable verdict supporting the ban on TeH. The organization was prohibited on December 31, 2023, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a law criticized for its stringent measures.

The Indian Home Minister, Amit Shah, had previously declared TeH as an unlawful association, alleging its involvement in activities aimed at securing the freedom of Jammu and Kashmir from India and establishing Islamic rule in the territory. Shah’s statement was made public through a post on the social media platform “X”.

This tribunal formation mirrors a similar action taken by the government on Monday. Another tribunal was set up, also comprising a Delhi High Court judge handpicked by the government, to legitimize the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim League (JKML), led by APHC Chairman Masarrat Aalam Butt. Like TeH, JKML was declared unlawful under the UAPA for its pro-freedom activities in the region and was banned for a duration of five years.

These developments have intensified the debate over the use of the UAPA and the Indian government’s approach towards organizations involved in the Kashmir conflict. The establishment of these tribunals indicates a strategic move by the government to reinforce its legal stance on the contentious issue of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy and the groups advocating for it.