Representative image (Reuters)
The Mehbooba Mufti-led government in Jammu and Kashmir has decided to lift the ban on a well-known English daily, Kashmir Reader.
A senior government officer privy to the development said formal orders will be issued in a day or two.
“The government has considered their representation and other material record and taken a view that there is no need for a further ban,” said the official.
The newspaper was banned on 2nd October 2016, after the death of Hizbul Mujahiddin commander Burhan Wani in an encounter. Srinagar District Magistrate Farooq Ahmad Lone had invoked section 144 of CrPC, Section 3 of Newspapers Incitement of Offences Act 1971 and Section 10 of Press and Publication Act of 1989.
Lone, in his order, had declared that the newspaper publishes “material and content which tends to incite acts of violence and disturb public peace and tranquility”.
Hilal Mir, Editor of the Kashmir Reader told News18, “Director Information spoke to our bureau chief and said we can resume our publication.”
“We hope press would be allowed to function independently,” Mir added.
The newspaper management had held a couple of meetings with chief minister Mehbooba Mufti urging her to explain why the paper can’t resume publication.
Mediapersons had regularly marched against the ban on Kashmir Reader and the issue was also raised by the local editors’ body.