Relaxing curbs in J&K, SC told
ART 370 Centre tells the apex court pleas claiming ‘complete clampdown’ incorrect
NEWDELHI: The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it had been relaxing the curbs imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 and claimed that the pleas alleging “complete clampdown” were incorrect and irrelevant.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and Union Territory Jammu Kashmir, commenced his submissions before a bench headed by Justice NV Ramana and justified certain restrictions imposed by the Centre in the region after the abrogation of Article 370 which had given special status to the then state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Mehta told the bench that relaxations have been given in the region since August 13 and it was not a complete clampdown as projected by petitioners and said that the pleas including one filed by senior Congress l eader Ghulam Nabi Azad, alleging restrictions, are incorrect, irrelevant and have outlived their utility.
He said that various central legislations were not applicable in the state before abrogation of Article 370 and laws such as Right to Information and prohibition of child marriage were not applicable to the state earlier.
The Solicitor General told the bench that the authorities have applied their minds in imposing or lifting curbs in the region and services such as post-paid mobile service restarted on October 14 in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Schools have reopened, moreover, 917 schools were never shut after abrogation of Article 370,” Mehta told the bench also comprising justices R Subhash Reddy and BR Gavai.
ANI quoted Mehta as saying, “The entire situation [in J&K] has been handled in a very beautiful manner. It is a temporary measure which was imposed and done in the interest of safety and security of all.”
Almost ten lakh people have accessed the internet, he said, thereby, refuting the allegations levelled by the petitioners regarding the imposition of ban on its usage.
Mehta further contended that only landlines and public assembly were prohibited and not individual freedom.
“Landlines were periodically restored in Jammu and Kashmir. 100% mobile connections have been restored there by September 29,” he added.
Restrictions under Section 144 on movement have also been withdrawn or relaxed.
In August, the central government had scrapped Article 370 and bifurcate the erstwhile state into two UTS -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Following this, phone lines and the internet were blocked in the region.