Section8
The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

Power to notify places used for the purpose of an unlawful association

In force From 30 Dec 1967 Act 37 of 1967 As on 17 Oct 2026

Act 37 of 1967 Ministry Home Affairs Enacted 30 Dec 1967 In force 30 Dec 1967 Cited by 3 provisions Instruments 5

Section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 deals with power to notify places used for the purpose of an unlawful association. Where an association has been declared unlawful by a notification issued under section 3 which has become effective under sub-section (3) of that section, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, notify any place which in its opinion is used for the purpose of such unlawf The Act came into force on 30 Dec 1967.

(1) Where an association has been declared unlawful by a notification issued under section 3 which has become effective under sub-section (3) of that section, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, notify any place which in its opinion is used for the purpose of such unlawful association.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, "place" includes a house or building, or part thereof, or a tent or vessel.

(2) On the issue of a notification under sub-section (1), the District Magistrate within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such notified place is situate or any officer authorised by him in writing in this behalf shall make a list of all movable properties (other than wearing-apparel, cooking vessels, beds and beddings, tools of artisans, implements of husbandry, cattle, grain and food-stuffs and such other articles as he considers to be of a trivial nature) found in the notified place in the presence of two respectable witnesses.

(3) If, in the opinion of the District Magistrate, any articles specified in the list are or may be used for the purpose of the unlawful association, he may make an order prohibiting any person from using the articles save in accordance with the written orders of the District Magistrate.

(4) The District Magistrate may thereupon make an order that no person who at the date of the notification was not a resident in the notified place shall, without the permission of the District Magistrate, enter, or be on or in, the notified place:

Provided that nothing in this sub-section shall apply to any near relative of any person who was a resident in the notified place at the date of the notification.

(5) Where in pursuance of sub-section (4), any person is granted permission to enter, or to be on or in, the notified place, that person shall, while acting under such permission, comply with such orders for regulating his conduct as may be given by the District Magistrate.

(6) Any police officer, not below the rank of a sub-inspector, or any other person authorised in this behalf by the Central Government may search any person entering, or seeking to enter, or being on or in, the notified place and may detain any such person for the purpose of searching him:

Provided that no female shall be searched in pursuance of this sub-section except by a female.

(7) If any person is in the notified place in contravention of an order made under sub-section (4), then, without prejudice to any other proceedings which may be taken against him, he may be removed therefrom by any officer or by any other person authorised in this behalf by the Central Government.

(8) Any person aggrieved by a notification issued in respect of a place under sub-section (1) or by an order made under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4) may, within thirty days from the date of the notification or order, as the case may be, make an application to the Court of the District Judge within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such notified place is situate—

(a) for declaration that the place has not been used for the purpose of the unlawful association; or

(b) for setting aside the order made under sub-section (3) or sub-section (4),

and on receipt of the application the Court of the District Judge shall, after giving the parties an opportunity of being heard, decide the question.

Section 8, The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (Act 37 of 1967).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Judgments citing this section

These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.

  1. High Court 13 Jul 2023 KLHC010495442023

    … This writ petition is filed challenging Ext.P2 order of the District Collector and District Magistrate, Thrissur. 3. When this writ petition came up for consideration, the learned Government Pleader submitted that Ext.P2 is an appealable order as per section 8(8) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. If that is the case, this writ petition need not be entertained. The petitioner is free to challenge Ext.P2 before the appropriate forum in accordance to law. All the contentions raised by the petitioner are left open. If any appeal is filed against Ext.P2, the …

    Read this order on eCourtsIndia

  2. High Court 16 May 2023 KAHC010529222022

    … In exercise of powers conferred under Section 8 of the Act certain organizations coming within the jurisdiction of the commissionerate of Mangalore are banned. It concerns of several offices of the petitioner. The notification reads as follows: > "Now therefore, in exercise of the powers under Section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 it has come to our notice that the below mentioned places are used for the purpose of such Unlawful Association. Hence its has been declared as Unlawful Association. | Unlawful Association | …

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  3. High Court 06 Dec 2016 HCBM030132102007

    … and the order passed by the District Magistrate, it appears that the said notification and the order passed with regard thereto, are in respect of delegation of powers to prohibit use of funds by unlawful association and to notify the place for the purpose of use of unlawful association, as contemplated under Sections 7 and 8 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 (old). In the instant case, the charge-sheet came to be submitted against the applicants accused for the offence punishable under Section 10 of the Act of 1967, for which previous sanction of the Central Government or any officer or authorities of the Central Government …

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Made under this section, and citing it

5 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.

All subordinate legislation

Questions about Section 8

What does Section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act deal with?

Section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is headed "Power to notify places used for the purpose of an unlawful association". Where an association has been declared unlawful by a notification issued under section 3 which has become effective under sub-section (3) of that section, the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, notify any place which in its opinion is used for the purpose of such unlawf

How do I find court cases under Section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Uapa 8, section 8 Uapa, section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and has it changed?

Its own text turns on section 3 (Declaration of an association as unlawful), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. 5 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently Excercise of powers under section 7 and 8 by state Governments and UT Administrations (2008), then Central Government hereby directs Government of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise in respect of Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI) as an Unlawful Association (2019).

When did Section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act come into force?

Section 8 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, cited as Uapa 8, came into force on 30 Dec 1967, having been enacted on 30 Dec 1967. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 17 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.