The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court’s three-judge full bench on Monday heard a batch of fresh petitions challenging the government’s decision to ban 25 books for allegedly spreading and promoting “false narratives and secessionism”. The court has fixed December 4 as the date for the final hearing.
The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Rajnesh Oswal and Justice Shahzad Azeem, after hearing arguments from both sides, ruled that it cannot provide any interim relief to the petitioners and listed the case for hearing on December 4.
The petitions were filed by journalist David Devadas, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, retired Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, and others, including advocates Shakir Shabir and Swastik Singh.
The petition challenges the Home Department’s August 5 order, issued under the provisions of Section 95 of the CrPC, which banned the publication and circulation of 25 books, including works by Arundhati Roy, AG Noorani, Sumantra Bose, Anuradha Bhasin, and others, on grounds of “propagating secessionism.”
Defence counsel Advocate Vrinda Grover said, “The special bench constituted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court immediately issued notice today, which is the first step in commencing the case. The court has now fixed the matter for final hearing and arguments on December 4. We are very grateful to the court, and I think it has taken up the matter with the significance and urgency it deserves. The court has shown its intent to hear and decide the matter finally.”
Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed the petitioners to approach the J&K and Ladakh High Court, after which the full bench was constituted on September 30.
Pertinently, on August 5, the Jammu & Kashmir Home Department banned the publication of 25 books on Kashmir, including works by authors such as Arundhati Roy and AG Noorani, saying they propagate “secessionism.”
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