Picture : Twitter / ANI
The Supreme Court while hearing pleas on Article 370 has asked the Centre to make all endeavours to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible.
A bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer said as the so-called shutdown is in the valley itself, then it can be dealt by the Jammu and Kasmir High Court.
The bench was told by the Centre that all Kashmir-based newspapers were running and the government had been offering all kinds of assistance.
It also said that TV channels like Doordarshan and others private ones along with FM networks are working in the state.
The bench asked Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, to put details of these steps taken on an affidavit.
Meanwhile Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi said he was ready to visit the Valley to check the situation on ground if required . “It is serious if people cannot approach the HC,” the CJI said and added that he would visit Srinagar himself to assess the veracity of the plea.
Further , the Supreme Court has also allowed Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to visit four districts in Kashmir. He had been denied permission earlier. Azad will be allowed to visit Baramulla, Anantnag, Sringar, and Jammu.
He will escorted by security agencies and has been forbidden to hold any political rally. The court has asked him to file a report after his visit.
