Tue Jul 15 03:46:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewrite as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Indian government is challenging the legal standing of the Popular Front of India’s (PFI) appeal against a ban imposed on them. The government argues that because the tribunal upholding the ban was headed by a sitting High Court judge, the PFI’s challenge cannot be brought under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. The PFI claims the issue was raised in a previous case and their petition is valid. The court has scheduled a hearing for August 7th. The PFI was banned for alleged terrorist links and spreading communal hatred.

**News Article:**

**PFI Ban Challenge Faces Hurdle as Government Questions Legality of Appeal**

*New Delhi, July 15, 2025* – The central government is contesting the legal basis of the Popular Front of India’s (PFI) petition against the five-year ban imposed on the organization, arguing that the appeal is not maintainable under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.

During a hearing in the Delhi High Court on Monday, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju asserted that the petition against the ban, which was upheld by a tribunal headed by a sitting High Court judge, could only be challenged under Article 136, not Article 226. He argued that High Court judges are not subordinate to the Delhi High Court, thus rendering Article 227 inapplicable.

The PFI’s counsel countered, claiming the issue was previously raised before a division bench of the Delhi High Court, making their current petition valid.

The bench, led by Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela, has scheduled the next hearing for August 7th. The court is yet to issue a formal notice in the matter.

The PFI is challenging the March 21, 2024, order of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act tribunal, which confirmed the central government’s decision to ban the organization on September 27, 2022. The government had banned the PFI, citing alleged links to international terrorist groups like ISIS and accusations of spreading communal hatred within India.

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