[Breaking] Special committee decides against restoring 4G Internet in J&K, next review after two months: MHA tells SC

In response to a contempt petition for not constituting a special committee as directed by a Supreme Court to review internet restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has informed the top Court that the committee has decided against the restoration of 4G connectivity in the valley for the present. .After the meeting on June 10, the special committee decided that "based on consideration and wide-ranging assessment of the prevalent situation in this sensitive region ... no further relaxation on internet services including 4G services could be carried out at the present." .The committee will meet again after two months to review the situation, it is further informed..The four-page affidavit filed on July 21 states that the special committee was constituted by the Supreme Court itself on May 11, 2020, when the Justice NV Ramana led bench had ordered that a special committee headed by Home Secretary, Government of India would be formed to review the internet restrictions in the valley.."Contentions regarding alleged failure to constitute a special committee through a notification or order by the Government of India is totally misconieved and misconstrued. The special committee stood constituted by the May 11 order of the Supreme Court and no further notification or order from the government was needed."reads the MHA affidavit.The MHA's affidavit was filed in response to the contempt petition by the Foundation for Media Professionals (FMP) over the non-constitution of a special committee to review the ban on 4G speed internet in Jammu and Kashmir..On July 16, the Justice Ramana led bench had sought the response of the Centre on the contempt plea even as Attorney General KK Venugopal insisted that there was no contempt..4G Internet in Jammu & Kashmir: Supreme Court refuses to issue notice in contempt plea, says details of review committee not in public.The petitioners had argued that knowledge of whether the government had constituted a special committee was not in the public domain. .On May 11, while declining to order the restoration of 4G internet services in J&K, the court had said that the constitution of a "special committee", which is separate from the Review Committee prescribed under the Temporary Telecom Suspension Rules 2017, was necessary having regard to the seriousness of the matter..[Breaking] Supreme Court directs setting up of Committee headed by MHA Secy to look into ban on 4G internet services in Jammu & Kashmir.The MHA states that four days after the May 11 verdict, the committee was constituted on May 15. This committee met again on June 10, it is stated, after it obtained all relevant materials needed to arrive at a decision. .Restrictions on internet services available in J&K were put in place from August 5 in the wake of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution..After the Supreme Court verdict of May 11, the J&K administration had extended the internet curbs thrice – on May 27, June 17 and July 8 – citing the threat of cross-border terrorism. .The administration also claimed that 2G internet speed has not caused any impediment to COVID-19 management, online education or e-commerce..Along with the contempt plea, the petitioners had also filed an application for the immediate restoration of 4G internet services in the region, stating that the denial of the same amid the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has resulted in disrupting medical services, online education and e-commerce activities..[READ AFFIDAVIT].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.