The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Jammu & Kashmir government in a plea seeking restoration of 4G speed for mobile internet services in the valley, amidst the Coronavirus outbreak.
Notice was issued by a Bench of Justices NV Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and BR Gavai.
Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the petitioner, argued that in view of the lockdown, there is a need to enhance technology and connectivity.
Ahmadi further said that virtual classes can be conducted for students only if the same is secured.
The petitioner organization, Foundation for Media Professionals, had prayed for the restoration of 4G internet speed for mobile internet services in light of the Coronavirus outbreak.
The authorities had earlier passed an order on March 26 restricting the internet speed in the Union Territory to 2G. The petition challenges this order as being violative of Articles 14, 19, 21, and 21A of the Constitution of India.
This government order was passed as a way of restoring internet facilities in Jammu & Kashmir after the decision to abrogate Article 370.
After the region’s status was changed and it was bifurcated into two Union Territories, all modes of communication remained suspended and were partially and gradually restored. It was only recently that mobile internet services, albeit restricted to 2G speed, were restored in J&K.