Srinagar, Oct 11: The Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court have formed a three-judge Full Bench to hear a series of petitions challenging the government’s order forfeiting 25 books for allegedly promoting “false narratives and secessionism.”
The Bench, headed by the Chief Justice and comprising Justices Rajnesh Oswal and Shahzad Azeem, is scheduled to take up the matter on Monday.
The move follows the court’s observation on September 30, when it agreed to consider forming a larger bench to examine the legality of what petitioners have termed a “sweeping and unreasoned forfeiture” of the publications.
The petitions, filed by journalist David Devadas, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami, retired Air Vice Marshal Kapil Kak, advocate Shakir Shabir, and Swastik Singh, challenge the Home Department’s notification issued under Section 95 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Petitioners argue that the government’s action infringes upon the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression and lacks a reasoned justification.
The J&K Home Department, on August 5, ordered the forfeiture of 25 books on Kashmir, claiming they propagate “secessionism.” The banned works include Azadi by Arundhati Roy, The Kashmir Dispute 1947–2012 by A.G. Noorani, In Search of a Future: The Kashmir Story by David Devadas, A Dismantled State by Anuradha Bhasin, and Contested Lands by Sumantra Bose, among others.
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the ban was initially filed in the Supreme Court, which later directed the petitioner to approach the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court for adjudication. (Agencies)
