Mon Oct 13 22:54:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text followed by a news article rewrite:

**Summary:**

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has declined to issue immediate notices regarding a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the forfeiture of 25 books in the region. The PIL was filed by CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami after the J&K Home Department, under the Lieutenant Governor, deemed the books to be promoting a false narrative and secessionism. The books are by prominent writers and cover various topics related to Kashmir. The court has, however, set a final hearing date for December 4th. The petitioner’s counsel expressed gratitude for the court taking up the matter with urgency. The Supreme Court had previously directed petitioners to approach the High Court regarding this issue. One of the authors, David Devdas, argues that his forfeited book was the result of significant research and was even praised by officials, and that there is no connection between the book and any disturbances since its publication. The plea contends that the forfeiture order lacks specific grounds for opinion and curtails fundamental rights.

**News Article:**

**J&K High Court to Hear Challenge Against Book Forfeiture; Final Hearing Set for December**

**Srinagar, October 14, 2025** – The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has deferred issuing notices on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the recent forfeiture of 25 books deemed to be propagating “false narratives and secessionism” by the J&K Home Department. The PIL, filed by CPI(M) leader M.Y. Tarigami, seeks to overturn the order issued under Section 98 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The full bench of the High Court, comprised of Chief Justice Arun Palli and Justices Rajnesh Oswal and Shahzad Azeem, stated that it would proceed to a final hearing on December 4th.

The move to forfeit the books, authorized by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration in August, has drawn criticism from authors and legal experts, who argue it infringes on freedom of expression. The banned titles include works by prominent writers like Christopher Snedden, A.G. Noorani, Arundhati Roy, and others, focusing on the history, politics, and social dynamics of Jammu and Kashmir.

Vrinda Grover, the counsel for the petitioner, expressed gratitude to the court for prioritizing the matter, stating the court intended to hear and decide the matter.

One of the authors whose book was forfeited, David Devdas, argues in his petition that his work, published in 2007 after years of research and praised by former officials, bears no causal link to current unrest. His plea contends that the government’s forfeiture order is based on vague and ambiguous grounds and unlawfully restricts fundamental rights.

The High Court’s Full Bench was constituted following a directive from the Supreme Court, which instructed petitioners to seek recourse at the regional court level. The upcoming hearing is expected to address the merits of the government’s forfeiture order and its potential impact on freedom of speech and academic discourse in the region.

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