J&K: PANEL TO LOOK INTO 4G RESTORATION

NEW DELHI: The Central government told the Supreme Court that it did, as ordered to by the court on May 11, set up a committee to review curbs on 4G internet connections in J&K , but has not taken a decision yet because of a number of terrorist attacks.

The committee is headed by home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, it added. This is the first time the government has shared information about the committee -- and it came in the course of a contempt petition by the Forum for Media Professionals that the court’s May 11 order on forming such a panel wasn’t complied with. Attorney general KK Vengugopal also said that the committee met twice, on May 16 and June 10. He said he was even willing to place the minutes of the two meetings in a sealed cover. Highspeed internet and all mobile services were suspended in J&K on August 5 last year when the government abrogated Article 370 that gave it special status. Only mobile phone services have been restored.

The bench of justices NV Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and BR Gavai said, “Nothing is in public domain yet. What is the problem in informing public that there is a committee?”