SC reserves order on pleas seeking 4G internet in J&K

Central govt and UT admn have justified ban on internet speed stating threat to national security

NEW DELHI:THE Supreme Court on Monday reserved its order on a batch of petitions seeking restoration of 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir claiming the 2G service available in the Union Territory (UT) is not sufficient for education and business purposes amid the ongoing coronavirus-induced lockdown.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice NV Ramana said that it is taking into consideration all the issues in the matter and that it does not require any additional material in the case.

“We will pass appropriate orders in the case,” Justice Ramana said. During the hearing, attorney general KK Venugopal appearing for central government said the orders that have been passed specifically stated that restrictions of internet speed are required for national security. “Terrorists are being pushed into the country. Yesterday, there were some tragic events also. These men could easily take videos of the troop movements because they were trusted. The enemy could know the troop movements if they had 4G,” Venugopal told the court.

Terrorists are being pushed into the country. Yesterday, there were some tragic events too. National security is paramount and those tasked with protecting it should be the sole judges in the matter.

KK VENUGOPAL , attorney general representing central govt

The attorney general said that the pleas have to be examined against the larger public interest, adding that national security is paramount . “The matters of policy decision cannot be interfered with by the court. It must be left to the government,” Venugopal added. Lawyer Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for one of the petitioners, told the court that the Covid-19 situation in J&K has worsened and added that problems are being faced by doctors, who cannot access necessary information about coronavirus treatment due to the internet speed.

75 doctors have also made a representation flagging the same concerns, Ahmadi said. Justice Ramana said that the government is saying the people can rely on the landline broadband connection, to which Ahmadi responded by saying broadband connections account for less than one percent of the total internet connections in J&K.

Justice Ramana said that the Centre is claiming that there has been a surge in terrorist activities and they have collaborated via 4G. Ahmadi responded by saying that the terrorist activities were more in the 1990s when there was no internet at all.

Covid-19 situation in J&K has worsened Doctors cannot access necessary information about the virus treatment due to internet speed. 75 doctors have also made a representation flagging the same concerns.

HUZEFA AHMADI, lawyer appearing for one of the petitioners