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- television and radio channels are functioning, including from Srinagar, where the Petitioner in W.P. (C) No. 1031 of 2019 is situated. The learned Solicitor General further indicated that the Government had taken certain measures to ensure that essential facilities would be available to the populace.
- The learned Solicitor General submitted that orders passed under Section 144, Cr.P.C. can be preventive in nature, in order to prevent danger to public safety. The Magistrate can pass the order even on the basis of personal knowledge, and the same is supposed to be a speedy mechanism. The orders passed must be considered keeping in mind the history and the background of the State.
- Relying on Babulal Parate v. State of Bombay, AIR 1960 SC 51, and Madhu Limaye v. SubDivisional Magistrate, Monghgyr, (1970) 3 SCC 746, the learned Solicitor General submitted that the situation in the State of Jammu and Kashmir was such that the orders could be justified in view of maintenance of the "security of the State". Regarding the Petitioners' submission that the restrictions could have been imposed on specific individuals, the learned Solicitor General submitted that it was impossible to segregate, and control, the troublemakers from the ordinary citizens.
- The learned Solicitor General submitted that there were enough facts in the knowledge of the Magistrate to pass the orders under Section 144, Cr.P.C. There was sufficient speculation on the ground to suggest that there might be a move to abrogate Article 370 of the Constitution, and they were aware of the situation on the ground. Provocative speeches and messages were being transmitted. This information is all available in the public domain.
- It was further submitted that the Court does not sit in appeal of the decision to impose restrictions under Section 144, Cr.P.C. and has limited jurisdiction to interfere, particularly when there are no allegations of mala fide made against the officers and when the question involved is of national security. The level of restriction required is best left to the officers who are on the ground with the requisite information and knowledge, and the same is not to be replaced by the opinion of the Courts.
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