Kashmir Lockdown: Petition by Editor of Kashmir Times mentioned in Supreme Court for urgent listing

The petition filed by Executive Editor of the Kashmir Times, Anuradha Bhasin, challenging the shutdown on movement and communications in Jammu and Kashmir was mentioned today before Justice Arun Mishra for urgent listing..Justice Mishra has directed the lawyer to give the details of the petition to the Registrar..The petition has been moved to relax restrictions on communication services and movement in Jammu and Kashmir, in view of the continuing lockdown in the State after the Central Government’s move to scrap Article 370 of the Constitution last week..The plea highlights that the shutdown of internet and telecommunication, the severe restrictions on mobility and the sweeping curtailment on information sharing, at a time when significant political and constitutional changes are being forged by the Parliament to the status of Jammu and Kashmir, violate the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19, the right of the public to information and the right to practice one’s profession..The petitioner has argued for the withdrawal of Government restrictions in the State, terming the lockdown to be an abuse of State power..Inter alia, the petition also juxtaposes public claims made by the government “that there is peace and normalcy in Kashmir” with several media reports concerning the difficulties faced by the press and the public impact of the communication lockdown..Contending that the continuing restrictions are “excessive, disproportionate and gross abuse of State power” the plea calls on the Supreme Court to issue directions to the Government to “immediately relax all restrictions on mobile, internet and landline services in Jammu and Kashmir and the strict restrictions on freedom of movement in order to enable journalists to practise their profession and exercise their right to report.”.The prayers made by the petitioner include the following:.Quash all order(s), notification(s), direction(s) and/or circular(s) issued to shutdown/suspend communication, including Internet, mobile and fixed-line telecommunication services in Jammu and Kashmir as unconstitutional;Direct the Government to immediately restore all modes of communication including mobile, internet and landline services throughout Jammu and Kashmir in order to provide an enabling environment for the media to practice its profession;Direct the Government to take any and all steps necessary to ensure free and safe movement of reporters, journalists and other media personnelFrame guidelines ensuring that the right and means of media personnel to report and publish news is not unreasonably curtailed though the issuance of orders by any authority to suspend telecom and/or internet services..The petitioner is represented by Advocates Vrinda Grover, Soutik Banerjee and Ratna Appnender. The petition has been filed through Advocate Sumika Hazarika.