Indian high court rules indefinite suspension of Internet services illegal

The Supreme Court in India has pronounced that the indefinite Internet restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir are against the Indian constitution. The court has given the government a week to review the shut-downs. The court based its decision on the interpretation of Article 19 (1) of the Indian constitution, stating that ‘Freedom of expression and carrying on trade through Internet is protected under Article 19 (1) of the constitution and can be restricted only under the reasons given in Article 19 (2) of the constitution.’ The court also ruled that repeated orders by the government to shut-down the Internet are abuse of power.