4G AGAIN

The latest about the 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir is that petitioner’s lawyer and the government lawyers locked horns before the judges of Supreme Court whether the top court should move ahead on the plea for the contempt proceedings against Union Home secretary and Chief secretary of Jammu and Kashmir for violating the court orders to frame the committee and take a decision for the restoration of the services.

The lawyer of petitioner told the supreme court that government advocates defending the government were trying to mislead the court as it was a clear case of contempt and said that it was the violation of fundamental rights of People of Jammu and Kashmir. He mentioned its impact on their lives especially during this pandemic and how the virtual classes could not be held due to the low speed internet available in Kashmir.

The Supreme Court while listening to the arguments told government advocates that if they have complied with the directions of the court, they should make such orders available in public domain.

The petition was filed in the Supreme Court last month seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the Union Home Secretary and Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary for not setting up a committee to review curbs on the Internet in the newly created Union Territory.

While refusing to order restoration of 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, a three-judge Bench headed by Justice NV Ramana had on May 11 set up a special committee led by Union Home Secretary to take a call on the issue after factoring in the security situation on the ground. Besides the Union Home Secretary, DoT Secretary and Chief Secretary of J-K was to be on the panel.

While the government is insisting that they have taken even the decisions after forming the committee, then there are questions why such information was not available in public domain.