Publish all orders on restrictions, including suspension of internet, SC asks J&K administration

The Supreme Court Friday directed the Jammu and Kashmir administration to publish all orders related to restrictions, including suspension of telecom and internet services, to enable the affected persons to challenge them before the high court or other forum.

The court noted that though it was asked to go into the question of validity of orders, restricting movement and communication, passed in Jammu and Kashmir by various authorities, the orders were not placed before it.

While the petitioners and intervenors claimed that the orders were not available with them, the authorities cited difficulty in producing all of them before the court and only placed sample orders, the court said.

"While the State initially claimed privilege, it subsequently dropped the claim and produced certain sample orders, citing difficulty in producing all the orders before this Court. In our opinion, this is not a valid ground to refuse production of orders before the court," a 3-judge bench, headed by Justice N V Ramana, said in its 130-page verdict.

The bench, also comprising Justices R Subhash Reddy and B R Gavai, said: "The respondent State/ competent authorities are directed to publish all orders in force and any future orders under Section 144 CrPC and for suspension of telecom services, including Internet, to enable the affected persons to challenge it before the High Court or appropriate forum."