"Ensure Normalcy Restored In Jammu And Kashmir," Top Court Tells Centre

Make every endeavour to restore normal life in Jammu and Kashmir as soon as possible, the Supreme Court told the government on Monday. Every move should be made keeping in mind national interest, said the top court.

"We direct Jammu and Kashmir to make every endevour to make sure normal life returns," said a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi.

"We ask for restoration to be on selective basis keeping in mind national interest," said the judges.

The bench, which included justices SA Bobde and SA Nazeer, said as the shutdown was in the Kashmir Valley, it could be dealt with by the Jammu and Kasmir High Court.

The government told the court that there had been no loss of life during the restrictions, which have been in place to avoid any backlash over the centre's decision in August to end special status to Jammu and Kashmir and split it into two union territories.

"Not a single bullet has been fired, there has been no loss of life," said the centre's lawyer, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

Restrictions have been removed in 93 police stations and there are no restrictions in Ladakh, he said, giving an account of OPDs, medical shops and Public Distribution Shops functioning across the state.  The court also directed the state government to make every endeavour for people to have access to health care.

The judges were told by the centre that all Kashmir-based newspapers were running and the government had been offering all kinds of assistance.