The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Centre and Jammu and Kashmir administration to file their responses by April 27 on a plea seeking restoration of 4G internet services in the Union territory in view of prevailing Covid-19 pandemic.
The top court was told that due to non-availability of 4Gservices, several aspects are affected including medical facilities andeducation services.
The Centre opposed the plea by telling the apex court thatit is a question of national security as militancy still poses a serious threatin Jammu and Kashmir and cited a recent incident where hundreds of peoplegathered in the valley for a funeral of a militant killed by security forces.
A bench of Justices N V Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and B RGavai asked Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre andSolicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Jammu and Kashmir administration,to file detailed reply on affidavits by April 27 after assessing the groundsituation.
At the outset, the bench enquired from the parties about thestatus of a 4G services related case, which was taken suo motu (on its own) bythe Jammu and Kashmir High Court. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing forpetitioner — ‘Foundation for Media Professionals’– said that his petitionconcerns only with restoration of 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir. He informedthe bench that in the suo motu case taken by the High Court, notice has beenissued and it deals with whole gamut of matters in which 4G internet servicesis one of the issue.
He elaborated the need for 4G services and said foreffective video conferencing facility to consult doctors in case of any healthemergency, it was the need of the hour.
The senior advocate said that having access to 4G servicesand being able to consult doctors in time would help in saving lives. He addedthat the second aspect is of educations as without 4G internet services,schools are facing problems in holding virtual classes for the students duringthe lockdown period.
The bench, then asked Ahmadi as how many Covid-19 cases arethere in Jammu and Kashmir as of now. The senior advocate replied, as of nowaround 354 cases have been reported. Mehta said he needs a week time to file areply to the petition.