"About internet restrictions, people have to ultimately have a mode of communication..." Justice Ramana told the Central government in Supreme Court on Thursday, reported ANI.
The Supreme Court bench of Justices NV Ramana, R Subhash Reddy, and BR Gavai was hearing a number of cases regarding the restrictions imposed on the press as well as on communication and internet shutdowns in Jammu & Kashmir.
“How many days you want restrictions? It’s already two months now. You have to come clear on this and you have to find out other methods,” a three-judge bench headed by Justice NV Ramana asked the Government, reported ANI.
Upon mutual agreement by all the parties, the court decided to defer the matter for hearing on 5 November.
“You may impose restrictions, but you have to review your decisions. Do you?” the bench said to the Solicitor General for J&K administration, Tushar Mehta.
Mehta, in his response replied that 90% restrictions were lifted and the situation was being reviewed daily. This claim was met by a sharp retort by advocate Vrinda Grover, who said that internet shutdown was still in place.
On 16 October, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Centre for not placing on record the orders concerning the internet shutdown in Kashmir region.
Anuradha Bhasin, editor, Kashmir Times had filed a plea in Supreme Court on how internet shutdown and allied communication blockade violates fundamental freedoms of speech and expression under Article 19 of the Constitution.
The Centre, on 14 October, had lifted the communication restriction on postpaid mobile connections in Kashmir Valley. However, in a decision that has come as a rude shock to the Kashmir Valley’s residents, postpaid mobile users have been asked to clear their outstanding bills from 5 August, when Article 370 was abrogated, till 30 September, in order to use the services.
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