New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to directly entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s decision to ban 25 books on Kashmir, and advised the petitioner to approach the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court instead.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant, Joymalya Bagchi, and Vipul M. Pancholi said that since some of the authors of the proscribed books are residents of the Union Territory, the High Court would be better placed to appreciate the matter.
“Recently, there’s an attempt to bypass High Courts. Let’s have the advantage of the HC opinion. We have seen the list of the books. Some local people are talking about issues. HC would be in a better position,” Justice Kant observed during the hearing.
