The Supreme Court will take up on September 16 the pleas of Kashmir Times Editor and several others on alleged communication blockade in Jammu and Kashmir.
The apex court however declined to entertain a separate plea by activist Tehseen Poonawalla’s against the communication blockades in the area. “What does he do? What are his antecedents? What is his link with J&K? Do you want us to ask all this?” the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked.
Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor of Kashmir Times, told a bench headed by the CJI that even after a month of scrapping of Article 370, journalists were not allowed to move freely in the state. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta rubbished her claims and informed the top court that editors of Kashmir Times chose not to publish their newspaper.
The Centre also informed the Supreme Court that contrary to what Bhasin claims, a large number of newspapers are being published from Srinagar. Attorney General KK Venugopal told the top court that step by step relaxation was being allowed in Jammu and Kashmir.
The court declined to pass an order and put the matter for further consideration on Sep 16.
—India Legal Bureau