By virtue of Notification dated 14-12-73 the Government of Jammu and Kashmir declared the issue of the ˜Illustrated Weekly of India™ Annual 1973™ printed and published by Shri Uma Shankar at the Times of India Press and edited by Shri Khushwant Singh and all other documents containing copies, reprints and translations of or extracts from the said issue to be forfeited to the Government on the ground that the said issue contained an article entitled ˜Jammu & Kashmir™ which contravened the provisions of S. 153-A of the Ranbir P.C. The Notification further prohibited the import by post or otherwise into the State any copy of the said issue and all other documents containing copies or reprints etc. thereof.

2. By a composite petition the petitioners Messrs Bennett Coleman & Co. Ltd. who are the proprietors of the weekly, Shri Romesh Chandra, Manager of the firm and Shri Khushwant Singh Editor of the Weekly have assailed the aforesaid Government Notification under Art. 226 of the Constitution of India- S. 103 of the State Constitution and S. 99 B of the Criminal P.C. The undisputed fact is that the Illustrated Weekly of India is a notable English Magazine edited by Shri Khushwan