NEW DELHI (AP) — The decadeslong ban of Salman Rushdie's “The Satanic Verses” in his native India is now in doubt — not because of a change of heart more than two years after the author’s near-fatal stabbing, but because of what amounts to some missing paperwork.

In 1988, India ruled that Salman Rushdie’s novel “The Satanic Verses” could not be imported. This week, the ban was lifted because officials could not find the original order.

India's three-decade ban on importing author Salman Rushdie's controversial 'The Satanic Verses' book has effectively been lifted after a court said the government was unable to produce the original notification that imposed the ban.

Excerpts from the book along with an interview of Rushdie ran in an Indian magazine in September 1988, which led to Indian politicians Syed Shahabuddin and Khurshid Alam Khan demanding a ban. On 5 October 1988, the Indian government banned the import of The Satanic Verses via a customs order by the Ministry of Finance.

Delhi High Court rules no evidence of ban on Salman Rushdie`s controversial novel, sparking debate on censorship and free speech.

Rushdie's novel was banned in the Asian country in 1988 due to controversy over its depiction of Islam and portrayal of Prophet Muhammad. View on euronews

Salman Rushdie’s extremely controversial novel The Satanic Verses, which was banned in India in 1988, can now be sold in the country – all because of a bureaucr

The Delhi high court has said that an import ban on author Salman Rushdie’s controversial 1988 book The Satanic Verses appeared to be “non-existent”.

Salman Rushdie’s controversial 1988 novel The Satanic Verses could become available in India for the first time in decades after a court in Delhi said the government was unable to produce the original notification document that banned imports of the book.