Government of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has decided to restore 4G internet services in Jammu & Kashmir. The official spokesperson of J&K government, Rohit Kansal tweeted, “4G mobile internet services being restored in entire J&K.”
In August 2019, right after abrogation of Article 370, the Central government had imposed a complete communications blackout in the erstwhile state of J&K. In January 2020, on the basis of a Supreme Court order, the services were partially restored only at 2G speed for mobile users, social media was completely blocked and access was provided only to a selected “white-listed” sites.
On January 10, 2020, Supreme Court gave its verdict in Anuradha Bhasin’s petition who 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. SC had ordered the Central government to periodically review the orders passed for the restriction of internet services in Jammu & Kashmir.
4G mobile internet services being restored in entire J&K @diprjk
— Rohit Kansal (@kansalrohit69) February 5, 2021
Later on, orders were passed by the Central government on March 4, 17 and 26 restricting internet speed for mobile data services to 2G to the areas having high-speed internet services with low-intensity terrorist activities.
On March 31, 2020 another petition was filed by NGO Foundation for Media Professionals in SC 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. In this, Supreme Court passed an order to form a special committee comprising high level government officers to take a call on the same.
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.
On August 15, 2020, the government only agreed to resume 4G in two districts of J&K.
Read the order of government for restoring 4G Internet Services in Jammu & Kashmir:
