New Delhi, Jan 10, TEN Network | Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday hailed the Supreme Court order on Jammu and Kashmir, saying the government had tried to mislead the people and this time the apex court did not come under any pressure.
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Friday said access to Internet is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution and asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to review within a week all orders imposing curbs in the Union Territory.
A five-judge bench headed by Justice N. V. Ramana also asked the J-K administration to restore Internet services in institutions providing essential services like hospitals and educational places.
“We welcome this judgement. This is the first time the SC has talked about how people of J-K feel. I would like to thank the SC for a very historic decision and the people from across the country were waiting for it, especially the people of JK,” he said.
“The government of India has misled the entire country. This time the SC was forthright and they didn’t come under any pressure,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Congress too expressed pleasure over the news and said that the top court has given a big jolt to the Modi government’s “illegal activities” by the observation.
“SC delivers first big jolt of 2020 to illegal activities of Modi Govt by stating importance of internet as a fundamental right. Double shock for Modi-Shah that dissent cannot be oppressed by imposing section 144. Modiji reminded that nation bows before Constitution and not him!” Surjewala said in a tweet.
“SC recorded displeasure at Modi Govt’s refusal to show its orders and reminded them that internet ban is extraordinary measure. Modi-Shah now have a week to review internet restrictions and place the reasons before the public. No more ‘sealed envelopes’ to hide the truth in,” Surjewala said in another tweet.
The Congress via its official Twitter handle said that it hopes this serves as a reminder to the “tyrant duo ” that the law and the Constitution are above their politics, in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. (Telegraph)
