4G in J&K: Activists express concern over SCs decision
NEW DELHI: Several lawyers and digital rights activists have raised concerns over the Supreme Court&..
NEW DELHI: Several lawyers and digital rights activists have raised concerns over the Supreme Court's decision that the restoration of 4G internet services in Jammu and Kashmir will be looked into by a special committee led by the Union home secretary.
Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC), while taking note of the decision, released a statement saying that "it is unfortunate that the Supreme Court has instead of taking a decisive stance shifted the decision making back to the executive."
The organisation, which also runs a database of internet shutdowns in the country, provided a timeline of the communication blackout, noting that the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir plunged into unprecedented communication darkness on the evening of August 4, a day before the Centre abrogated Article 370, which gave the state considerable autonomy.
“It took exactly 213 days for the Centre to partially restore the internet in the Valley, with obsolete 2G technology,” it stated. According to the statement, in the absence of fast internet, the fight against COVID-19 will weaken as timely information cannot reach citizens, especially medical practitioners.
"To fight the said pandemic, timely information is crucial which is enabled by high-speed internet. This restriction has also had a harrowing impact on education and the economy," SFLC wrote.
Experts have been calling on the authorities to restore 4G internet, especially in light of the novel coronavirus. In March, UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye had also called for opening the internet.
"Reminded of the Emergency-era judgments: the executive will decide whether the executive violated fundamental rights, and whether tRead More – Source
