The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) government has decided to restore 4G internet services in J&K. .An order to that effect was passed by the Home Department of Government of Jammu & Kashmir on Friday. ."Keeping in view the advice of the Special Committee and upon careful review of overall security scenario, I, Principal Secretary to the Home Department hereby revoke the restrictions on mobile data services and fixed line internet connectivity placed vide Government Order dated January 22, 2021," the order said. .However, prepaid sim card holders will be provided access to internet connectivity only after verification as per norms applicable to postpaid connections, the order added. The Special Committee referred to in the order was constituted as per the directions of the Supreme Court in the case of Foundation for Media Professionals v. Union Territory of J&K to examine the issue of restoration of 4G services. ."4G mobile internet services being restored in entire J&K," official spokesperson of J&K government, Rohit Kansal tweeted. .Internet services were suspended in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019 shortly before the abrogation of Article 370 of Constitution by the Indian parliament..There were prolonged court battles to get the restrictions on internet in J&K lifted though it did not yield timely results. .Anuradha Bhasin, Editor of Kashmir Times, had approached the Supreme Court on August 10, 2019 challenging the restrictions on internet and telecommunications which were imposed in J&K in a bid to stifle protests and dissents which were widely anticipated with the abrogation of the contentious Article. .The Supreme Court gave its verdict in Bhasin's petition on January 10, 2020. In its judgment, the top court held that access to information and the freedom of trade and commerce via the internet are fundamental rights under the Constitution of India. It, therefore, ordered the Central government to periodically review the orders passed for the restriction of internet services in Jammu & Kashmir..[Breaking] Right to Freedom of Expression through the Internet is part of Article 19(1)(a): SC in petitions challenging restrictions in Kashmir.Pursuant to the said judgment, the J&K administration had passed various orders gradually lifting the restrictions on internet access in Jammu & Kashmir though it was not brought on par with the rest of the country.Orders were passed by the Central government on March 4, 17 and 26 restricting internet speed for mobile data services to 2G..The areas selected for high-speed internet services were those having low-intensity terrorist activities and minimal spillover effects on neighbouring areas..Later, NGO Foundation for Media Professionals also approached the Supreme Court on March 31, 2020 seeking restoration of 4G mobile internet services. It argued that patients, doctors, and general public of J&K were unable to access latest information, guidelines, protocols and advisories about COVID- 19 because of the slow internet speed..The Supreme Court passed a detailed judgment on May 11 in which it refrained from passing directions to restore 4G mobile internet services instead asking a special committee comprising high level government officers to take a call on the same..With no significant progress being made, the NGO filed a contempt petition in June 2020 before the apex court contending that no action was taken to comply with the top court’s judgment of May 11 to review restrictions on internet speed..The government, however, remained steadfast against relaxing the restrictions while agreeing to resume 4G in two districts of J&K starting on August 15, 2020. .[Read Government Order]
The Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) government has decided to restore 4G internet services in J&K. .An order to that effect was passed by the Home Department of Government of Jammu & Kashmir on Friday. ."Keeping in view the advice of the Special Committee and upon careful review of overall security scenario, I, Principal Secretary to the Home Department hereby revoke the restrictions on mobile data services and fixed line internet connectivity placed vide Government Order dated January 22, 2021," the order said. .However, prepaid sim card holders will be provided access to internet connectivity only after verification as per norms applicable to postpaid connections, the order added. The Special Committee referred to in the order was constituted as per the directions of the Supreme Court in the case of Foundation for Media Professionals v. Union Territory of J&K to examine the issue of restoration of 4G services. ."4G mobile internet services being restored in entire J&K," official spokesperson of J&K government, Rohit Kansal tweeted. .Internet services were suspended in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019 shortly before the abrogation of Article 370 of Constitution by the Indian parliament..There were prolonged court battles to get the restrictions on internet in J&K lifted though it did not yield timely results. .Anuradha Bhasin, Editor of Kashmir Times, had approached the Supreme Court on August 10, 2019 challenging the restrictions on internet and telecommunications which were imposed in J&K in a bid to stifle protests and dissents which were widely anticipated with the abrogation of the contentious Article. .The Supreme Court gave its verdict in Bhasin's petition on January 10, 2020. In its judgment, the top court held that access to information and the freedom of trade and commerce via the internet are fundamental rights under the Constitution of India. It, therefore, ordered the Central government to periodically review the orders passed for the restriction of internet services in Jammu & Kashmir..[Breaking] Right to Freedom of Expression through the Internet is part of Article 19(1)(a): SC in petitions challenging restrictions in Kashmir.Pursuant to the said judgment, the J&K administration had passed various orders gradually lifting the restrictions on internet access in Jammu & Kashmir though it was not brought on par with the rest of the country.Orders were passed by the Central government on March 4, 17 and 26 restricting internet speed for mobile data services to 2G..The areas selected for high-speed internet services were those having low-intensity terrorist activities and minimal spillover effects on neighbouring areas..Later, NGO Foundation for Media Professionals also approached the Supreme Court on March 31, 2020 seeking restoration of 4G mobile internet services. It argued that patients, doctors, and general public of J&K were unable to access latest information, guidelines, protocols and advisories about COVID- 19 because of the slow internet speed..The Supreme Court passed a detailed judgment on May 11 in which it refrained from passing directions to restore 4G mobile internet services instead asking a special committee comprising high level government officers to take a call on the same..With no significant progress being made, the NGO filed a contempt petition in June 2020 before the apex court contending that no action was taken to comply with the top court’s judgment of May 11 to review restrictions on internet speed..The government, however, remained steadfast against relaxing the restrictions while agreeing to resume 4G in two districts of J&K starting on August 15, 2020. .[Read Government Order]
