RESTORATION OF 4G
While on the one hand UT administration of Jammu and Kashmir has recently extended a ban on 4G services here, the government has informed Supreme Court that they have framed a committee to look for the options and explore the possibility for the restoration of high speed internet services here.
According to the media reports, the Supreme Court asked the Centre and Jammu and Kashmir administration to respond to a petition seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the Union Home Secretary and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary for allegedly not setting up a committee to review curbs on the Internet in the Union Territory.
In its May 11, 2020 decision, the top court had directed immediate setting up of a “special committee” to determine the necessity of continued restriction of mobile internet speed in J&K to 2G only. It had also asked the committee to put its decisions in the public domain.
A Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana asked the Centre and J&K Administration to respond within a week to the contempt plea filed by NGO Foundation for Media Professionals, which alleged that despite the Supreme Court’s order, the said committee to assess the need for internet restrictions in J&K had not been formed.
However, Attorney General KK Venugopal contested the allegations saying there was no question of contempt as the said committee had already been constituted.
While the restoration of 4G services is back in court, the government will have to inform the top court about the decisions taken by the committee for the same.
