Recently, the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh agreed to examine a plea challenging the government’s order to confiscate 25 books alleged to propagate “false narrative and secessionism” in the region. The plea seeks the quashing of the notification issued by the Jammu and Kashmir government.
The petitioners, including former Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, authors Sumantra Bose and Radha Kumar, and former Central Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah, have requested the return of all confiscated copies of the books. The matter was mentioned by advocate Vrinda Grover before a bench headed by Chief Justice Arun Palli for urgent consideration.
The Chief Justice stated that he would review the papers and then issue orders for the constitution of a special bench of three judges to hear the plea at the earliest. The petition invokes Section 99 read with Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), seeking to set aside the government’s notification.
The government’s order alleged that the works propagate false narratives and secessionist ideas, potentially prejudicing the security and integrity of India. The petitioners, however, argue that the books mainly deal with the socio-political life, cultural history, and political struggles of Kashmir, and many are academic works considered part of the historical record.
The High Court’s decision to consider the plea underscores the judicial scrutiny of government actions affecting freedom of expression and the handling of academic and historical publications in the region.
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