Suspension of internet services in an indefinite manner and repeated use of section 144  is an abuse of power- this has been the observation of Supreme Court on Friday while hearing a slew of petitions that challenged the constitutionality of the central government’s decision to impose lockdown J&K subsequent to abrogation of   Article 370. The apex court has clarified that limitless internet blackout is a violation of freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the Constitution. And as a part of its observation, it has also asked the J&K administration to review all internet restrictive orders currently in force within one week. Although it hasn’t ordered an immediate lifting of the ban, reading the reactions that had flowed in all throughout the day from legal and political circles, it is clear that, after this observation, a new hope has ushered that there might be an end to the culture of choosing internet and Section 144 as ‘easy picks to put things in order’. Keeping aside various ‘interpretations’ that are flowing in, these observations, no doubt will serve as solid additions when it comes to deciphering the intrinsic meaning of the holy word-democracy.
Internet shutdown in J&K is not a mere national issue now, but a global one if the incessant negative reactions are recounted. It’s been more than 5 months now and factually is the longest so in any democracy. Every constituent of social life has been affected, with medical services and trade being severely hit. Chamber of Commerce of the now bifurcated state has given the figures that   due to prolonged   internet shutdown,   economy there has incurred a loss of over 2.6 billion dollars  and rendered more than a lakh people jobless, both of which are counting with each passing day. Similar is the distress in hospitals where the medical treatment and follow up procedures, both for minor and major cases are now largely dependent on internet.   Repeated appeals for a rollback of this order had never been heard with empathy and despite a direction for review, it is also not sure what the final outcome is going to be, given the fact SC had only directed for a ‘review’, meaning that government can still issue fresh orders for an internet shutdown. Regarding Sec 144, the apex court has made clear that it can’t be used arbitrarily and state must have to publish every such order so that citizens affected by them can challenge the orders in courts.
The observations are ‘telling’ and will be having wide future ramifications. And the big question is what’s in store for J&K now? That depends on how things are ‘evaluated’.But one can only hope that the  ‘worst of time’ is over. 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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