New Delhi, November 06, 2019 (PPI-OT): Shutting down mobile, landline and internet services in occupied Kashmir is illegal and unconstitutional, Indian Supreme Court has been told. A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana was told that even after 90 days, communication services – data, internet, prepaid mobiles and SMS – were not operational in the Kashmir Valley, affecting the working of the media.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for Executive Editor of Kashmir Times Anuradha Bhasin who has challenged the restrictions imposed in the Valley, said, “There is absolute communications shut down from August 4. It requires to be tested by this court. Yes, there can be reasonable restrictions on rights under Article 19 but the same cannot extinguish the right itself,” she told the bench, also comprising Justices R Subhash Reddy and B R Gavai.
Grover argued that orders issued by the authorities were with regard to reduction of speed of 3G and 4G data but the internet service was totally shut down. “This order is illegal and unconstitutional,” she said while referring to one of the orders issued by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir. “There is complete non-application of mind while issuing these orders. These are bald orders,” she said.
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