 sought reply from the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration in a contempt plea over the non-constitution of a special committee to review the ban on 4G speed internet in Jammu and Kashmir.){kind=link}
Solicitor General Mehta informs court that the committee has taken a decision and details will be placed on record within a week
The Supreme Court today (July 16) sought reply from the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir administration in a contempt plea over the non-constitution of a special committee to review the ban on 4G speed internet in Jammu and Kashmir.
The bench, comprising Justices NV Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and BR Gavai, was hearing a contempt petition filed by the Foundation for Media Professionals (FMP) over the non-constitution of a Special Committee to review the ban on 4G speed internet in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta today informed the bench that a high-powered committee to review the ban on 4G internet mobile telephony in J&K has been constituted. The committee has taken a decision and details will be placed on record within a week.
The bench enquired whether the constitution of the committee has been put in public domain, since the petitioners have contended that no information of special committee being constituted is in the public domain
Senior Counsel Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for the contempt applicant, informed the bench that the Centre and the J&K administration are not responding to representations being filed against continued suspension of 4G services and orders are not being published making it impossible for the applicant to challenge it before the court.
He further submitted: “The people of J&K continue to suffer. Medical facilities continue to suffer and children cannot take online classes. What the entire country enjoys, only this state cannot. This directly infringes Article 21.”
Attorney General KK Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, submitted that no contempt is made out since the committee has already been formed and orders of suspension have been issued after due application of mind. He further submitted that the incidents of terrorism are on the rise.
However, the bench said that the order has not been placed on public domain and directed the Centre and J&K administration to file a counter affidavit within a week.
The matter has been listed for next hearing after a week.
– India Legal Bureau