The apex court has opened a window of hope for hundreds of thousands of people in Jammu and Kashmir whose lives have been affected due to the internet shutdown following the abrogation of the Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two union territories. While the service has been partially restored in Jammu region of the newly created union territory where broadband services are working since past more than two months, Kashmir continues to suffer. The central government and the state administration have argued before the apex court that the internet shutdown was necessary to prevent law and order problems in the valley in view of the August 5 development. Given what the former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir - Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, had predicted, the situation has remained largely under control in the Valley. With the bloodied experiences of 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2016 on the horizon, it is no doubt a remarkable achievement that there was no large scale bloodshed. Barring few unfortunate deaths of protesters during clashes with security forces, the prophesy of doom has turned out to be wrong. While the argument that heavy militarisation of Kashmir post August 5 move has terrorised people into silence does hold some water, today’s Kashmir seems to have moved on. Shops and other establishments are functioning normally and business seems to be picking up. Students have returned to their classrooms. Normalcy has also returned to public transport. In this backdrop, there is no reason why internet services should continue to remain suspended. The court has rightly pointed out that the internet shutdown for prolonged periods without any justifiable reason is a violation of the fundamental rights granted by the constitution to the citizens of the country while directing the J&K administration to review the restrictions in a week’s time. That more than five months have passed and people of J&K continue to be denied a fundamental right is a telling statement on the state of affairs. The ground situation in the Valley has improved remarkably. If the government and the security agencies believe that the situation remains inflammable in Kashmir, why to facilitate the trip of foreign envoys? If Kashmir is not normal, why is the government going around telling the world that the situation is in fact normal. This doublespeak needs to end. Either the government concedes the situation in Kashmir is not normal and continue the suspension of internet or it believes in what it says and ends the prevailing communication crisis.