Kashmir curfew-Indian supreme court orders to review internet suspension

Indian Supreme Court asked the officials to review Internet suspension and other limitations enforced in Indian Occupied Kashmir.

The court said, “Suspension of free movement, Internet and basic freedoms cannot be an arbitrary exercise of power,”

Defense Attorney Vrinda Grover informed that the Indian court has ordered the Indian government to publicize all the restrictions enforced since the start of curfew in IOK.

It was explained in the court that freedom of the press, freedom of speech and expression, has been affected by internet suspension.

An opposition Congress party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and editor of Kashmir times Anuradha Bhasinb were the petitioners of the case.

Anuradha Bhasin said that the limitations had affected freedom of press and communication.

She reported to an international news agency, “It’s significant in the sense that the Supreme Court has in principle laid down that access to the internet is a fundamental right. It’s a basic right and cannot be denied.”

She also said, “The internet shutdown has virtually killed the media in Jammu and Kashmir as there is no information, no content, nobody is writing freely and journalists are operating in an atmosphere of fear because the only place you can work is the media facilitation centre with inadequate facilities.”

However, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta opposed that modern terrorism relies heavily on the internet and social media is the most impactful weapon.