Residents of Jammu and Kashmir may get some relief after a year of suspension of 4G internet services in the UT as Supreme Court has on Friday asked the central government to find possibility of restoring the high speed internet in J&K.
4G internet services were suspended in J&K on August 5 last year when the central government abrogated Article 370 and it is one year since the people have not used high speed mobile services.
A bench of Justices N V Ramana, R Subhash Reddy, and B R Gavai heard the matter in which administration of J&K also took part. August 11 has been fixed as the next date of hearing.
Administration of J&K told the SC that as the new Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has taken over the reins of the UT, it may take sometime for him to understand the matter. However SC told the administration that change in Lt Governor has no bearing on the matter.
An NGO had filed a plea in SC seeking restoration of 4G internet services in J&K. The plea sought initiation of contempt proceedings against the Union Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of J-K for their alleged “wilful disobedience” in complying with the court’s May 11 order.
The bench argued that the court cannot say what the situation is on the ground level but the issue is that the matter should not be delayed.
The bench hearing the plea has also asked the administration if there was possibility that internet is restored in parts of J&K where situation is peaceful.
Jammu region has been peaceful since the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of state into two UTs.
Sources informed that the administration may be willing to restore 4G internet services in some districts of Jammu district before extending the service to entire UT.
