NOW IN SC

Slow speed internet has finally to be decided in the Supreme Court and the authorities of UT administration have extended ban on 4G services till May 11, 2020.

In this connection JK administration has told court that the internet is not a fundamental right in itself, but an enabler of rights.

This shows that JK administration wants to carry on with curbs on high speed internet in UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

The J&K government’s submission comes after the Supreme Court, in a landmark judgment in January this year, had declared access to the internet a fundamental right.

On 4 August last year, a day before the central government scrapped the Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into two union territories of JK and Ladakh all forms of communications were blocked including landlines. After six months, the administration lifted restrictions on all communications, but restored only 2G internet connectivity for mobile phones on 25 January. The government reviewed its decision periodically, but kept curbs on the speed till date.

On 9 April 2020, an NGO filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court, seeking the court’s direction to restore 4G internet service in Jammu and Kashmir. The plea mentioned the government’s 26 March order, which had reiterated the decision to restrict the speed. The bench of Justices N.V. Ramana, R. Subhash Reddy and B.R. Gavai had then issued a notice to the government, asking for its response.

It is in response to that direction of SC JK administration has said that access to internet was enabler of rights not a fundamental right. It is very curious to see how Supreme Court responds to this interpretation of JK administration about internet services and its restoration in UT of Jammu and Kashmir.