Explained: How an organisation is banned under stringent UAPA law

The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) lays down the definitions and rules for designating an organisation as an "unlawful association" if it is engaged in certain types of activities.

With the central government now issuing a notification to declare the Popular Front of India (PFI) as an "Unlawful Association", India Today looks at the process by which such a declaration can be made.

The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) lays down the definitions and rules for designating an organisation as an "unlawful association" if it is engaged in certain types of activities. The government can then issue a notification designating such an organisation as a terrorist organisation, if it believes that the organisation is part of "terrorist activities."

Under section 2(o) of the UAPA, an unlawful activity in relation to an individual or association means -

- Any action taken by such an individual or association (whether by committing an act or by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representation or otherwise), -

(i) which is intended, or supports any claim, to bring about, on any ground whatsoever, the cession of a part of the territory of India or the secession of a part of the territory of India from the Union, or which incites any individual or group of individuals to bring about such cession or secession; or

(ii) which disclaims, questions, disrupts or is intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India; or

(iii) which causes or is intended to cause disaffection against India;