Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 24
As restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after nullification of Article 370 of the Constitution entered 80th day, the Supreme Court on Thursday wondered how long the state administration intended to continue with such curbs, including the Internet blockade.
While hearing petitions challenging restrictions on movement and communication blockade in the Valley, a Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana told the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir Administration to come up with a clear reply and find out other methods to deal with the matter.
It told Attorney General KK Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre and the state respectively, that authorities might impose restrictions in national interest but the curbs needed to be reviewed from time to time.
“You have to come out with a clear reply. You have to find out other methods to deal with it,” the Bench told Mehta, adding, “How long you want these restrictions? You may impose restrictions in national interest but it has to be reviewed from time to time,” said the Bench which also included Justices R Subhash Reddy and BR Gavai.
Mehta said the restrictions were being reviewed on a daily basis and around 99% area was restriction free.
The Solicitor General’s submissions were countered by advocate Vrinda Grover, representing Kashmir Times Executive Editor Anuradha Bhasin, who said Internet shut down still continued in the Valley.
Mehta said such decisions had trans-border implications as it might lead to increase in terrorist activities in the Valley. “Let us not have an ostrich approach,” he said referring to the 2016 protests after killing of Burhan Wani by security forces. Internet was blocked for around three months and no petition was filed then, he added. The Bench posted all petitions on restrictions in Kashmir for hearing on November 5.
The top court referred the petitions challenging the validity of provisions of Articles 370 and 35-A — filed before August 5 nullification of the controversial provisions – to a five-judge Constitution Bench which is already seized of petitions against nullification of Articles 370 and 35-A and bifurcation of the state into two union territories. The Constitution Bench is to take up the matter on November 14.
Noting that these matters were old and there was no urgency to hear them, the Bench said, “When the Constitution bench will decide the Article 370 issue, we think these petitions might not survive.”
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/31LtMfV
via Today’s News Headlines
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