Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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India's Top Court Asks Government to Return Normal Life to Kashmir

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - Six weeks after the Indian government imposed a partial
   clampdown in Kashmir, the Supreme Court directed authorities to "make
   the very best endeavor" to return normal life to the disputed Himalayan
   region. Judges also asked the Indian government to ensure smooth
   functioning of schools, hospitals and public transport.

   The Supreme Court did not order the government to take specific actions
   to address the crisis.

   India imposed a security lockdown and communication restrictions in the
   restive region on August 5, after scrapping its partial autonomy and
   bringing it directly under New Delhi's control.

   Since then some curbs have been eased and most landlines have been
   restored. But the Kashmir valley continues to be largely shuttered, and
   mobile and internet services are still blocked. Although schools have
   opened, most students are not attending classes. An estimated 1,000
   people including regional political leaders are in detention.

   The court's ruling came in response to petitioners who have challenged
   the restrictions in the state calling them "draconian."

   They include editor Anuradha Bhasin, who told VOA that she is still not
   able to print the Srinagar edition of her newspaper, Kashmir Times, due
   to the clampdown on mobile phones and the internet.

   She noted the difficulty in putting out a newspaper with only landlines
   functioning.

   "More than 40 days have already passed by and the process of restoring
   communications has been a very slow one," Bhasin said.

   India's top court has said normalcy must be restored "keeping national
   security in mind."
   

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