India Lifts Decades-Long Ban on Importing Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses'

The Delhi High Court ruled that the original 1988 ban order is untraceable, allowing the book's import for the first time in over 30 years.

The Delhi High Court's decision comes after the Indian government failed to produce the original notification banning the import of 'The Satanic Verses'.
Petitioner Sandipan Khan challenged the ban in 2019, arguing that he was unable to find any official documentation of the import restriction.
The court's ruling effectively lifts the import ban, although it is unclear if the book will immediately become available in Indian bookstores.
Salman Rushdie's novel, published in 1988, has been controversial due to its portrayal of religious figures, leading to a global outcry and a fatwa against the author.
Despite the court's decision, the Indian government or other parties may still appeal or seek to reimpose a ban on the book.