Two J&K districts to get 4G on trial basis after Independence Day
On Tuesday, the Centre's counsel informed the Supreme Court, which is hearing pleas on restoration of 4G in J&K, that the threat perception still remains high and the situation is not conducive for its full restoration.
Two districts in J&K will get access to 4G connectivity after August 15 as the Centre agreed to lift restrictions on a trial basis. On Tuesday, the Centre’s counsel informed the Supreme Court, which is hearing pleas on restoration of 4G in J&K, that the threat perception still remains high and the situation is not conducive for its full restoration. However, it agreed to make some concessions by limiting its range to one district each in Jammu and Kashmir.
Last week, the apex court asked the Jammu and Kashmir administration to clarify its stance, by August 11, on requests for restoring 4G mobile internet services in the region.
A bench headed by Justice N V Ramana told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that there will be no more adjournment after that.
On July 28, the bench had asked the SG to clarify a reported statement of the then J&K Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu favouring the restoration of 4G in Kashmir.
The Indian Express had reported on July 26 that the J&K administration has told the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that it does not have any objection to restoring 4G internet services.
“We have been making (a) representation for this… I feel that 4G will not be a problem. I am not afraid (of) how people will use this. Pakistan will do its propaganda, whether it is 2G or 4G. It will always be there… But I don’t see an issue,” Murmu had told The Indian Express.
This was a change in the earlier position taken by the J&K administration two months ago in May.
Murmu resigned as L-G August 5 and was appointed as the new Comptroller and Auditor General. He has been replaced by BJP leader and former Minister Manoj Sinha.
