4G to return in J&K after Aug 15 on trial basis: Centre to SC
Restrictions on high-speed 4G mobile internet will be relaxed in one district each of J&K divisions after Aug 15 on a trial basis, the Centre has told the Supreme Court
nNEW DELHI: Restrictions on 4G mobile internet will be relaxed in one district each of Jammu and Kashmir divisions of India’s youngest Union Territory (UT) after August 15 on a trial basis, the central government told the Supreme Court on Tuesday, stopping short of a blanket removal of restrictions across the region because of security concerns.
The decision was arrived at on the recommendations made by a special committee constituted on the top court’s May 11 directive to the Centre to review restrictions on high-speed mobile internet in J&K, the government’s seniormost law officer, attorney general KK Venugopal, informed a threejudge bench headed by justice NV Ramana.
“Access to high speed internet could be provided on a trial basis in a calibrated manner in specified limited areas to assess the impact on the security scenario; the area should have low intensity of terrorist activities. The relaxation from 2G to 4G should be limited for the present to one district each in the Jammu division and Kashmir division,” Venugopal said, reading out the committee’s recommendations.
The decision was taken on the basis of recommendations by a special committee that was constituted after the SC’S May 11 directive to review internet curbs
Internet restrictions were imposed in J&K after revocation of Article 370 last year. People in the Valley currently have access to 2G internet
nnRULE TO BE REVIEWED
The relaxation will be reviewed by J&K administration every seven days and by central authorities after two months
NOT A BLANKET REMOVAL
The Centre told the Supreme Court that due to existing security concerns, internet restrictions cannot be lifted across the Union Territory
The relaxation will be reviewed by state authorities every seven days and by central authorities after two months, Venugopal added, maintaining that total relaxation of such restrictions in the entire UT will not be possible due to continuing security concerns.
“Any opening on a trial basis should not be in any area adjoining
the International Border/ Line of Control. Keeping in view the heightened threat perception, these relaxations would come into effect after August 15, 2020.”
The Supreme Court was hearing a petition filed in June by the Foundation for Media Professionals, a non-government organisation, seeking initiation of