The Jammu and Kashmir administration has declared Jamia Siraj-ul-Uloom, one of South Kashmir’s biggest seminaries, as an unlawful entity under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for alleged “covert linkages” with the banned group Jamaat-e-Islami, The Indian Express reported on Monday.

The administration also alleged “serious legal, administrative and financial irregularities” at the seminary in Shopian and accused it of fostering “an environment conducive to radicalisation”, the newspaper reported.

It was declared unlawful under Section 8(1) of the anti-terror law. The provision allows the divisional commissioner to notify any place that is used for the purposes of an unlawful association. It also paves the way for action against the entity such as freezing of assets or sealing of the premises.

The decision came following a report from the police, the newspaper quoted the order as saying.

The examined records showed that the institute “though ostensibly functioning as a religious educational establishment, is marred by serious legal, administrative and financial irregularities, including questionable land acquisition, lack of mandatory registration with competent authorities, and deliberate attempts to evade statutory oversight”, the order was quoted as alleging.

The order further stated that “credible inputs and evidence on record further indicate sustained and covert linkages of the institution with Jamaat-e-Islami...including continued de facto control by individuals affiliated with the said organisation and their placement in key administrative and academic positions”.

It also quoted reports as having “indicated” that the institute had allegedly “fostered an environment conducive to radicalisation, with a number of its former students having been found involved in militant activities” and acts hurting national security, “thereby suggesting misuse of the institution for purposes detrimental” to India’s sovereignty and integrity.

The order said that the institute had been given an opportunity to respond but that the objections it had submitted were “misconceived, factually untenable and devoid of legal merit”.

On Monday, the institute said that it had responded to the notice issued to it by the administration and urged it to again verify the seminary’s activities.

The institute said that it had no links to the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti said that declaring the seminary as an unlawful entity was “flagrant injustice” to the underprivileged sections of society.

The institute had “served as a beacon of quality education for students unable to afford expensive schooling”, she said, adding that it had “produced reputed doctors and professionals who served this nation with dedication”.

Banning the institute “without any solid evidence of anti-national activity shows a deep seated prejudice and ill intention”, she alleged.

Mufti also attacked the National Congress-led Jammu and Kashmir government saying that it was acting “as a mute bystander” and a “timid enabler of vicious assaults on J&K’s identity and dignity”.