Supreme Court Directs Govt. to Restore Internet Services in J&K

New Delhi, January 10, 2020:

The Supreme Court on Friday passed a series of orders directing the central government to review its decision of internet suspension in Jammu & Kashmir, following the scrapping of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

While hearing a petition challenging the internet shutdown on Jammu & Kashmir, the Supreme Court said that freedom of internet is part of freedom of speech. It said that internet services are intrinsic to right to free speech and it cannot be suspended without providing proper reasons.

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The court has ordered the J&K administration to resume internet services in all institutions that offer essential services like hospitals, educational institutions besides directing that all the government and local body websites, where internet abuse is minimal, be restored.

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The apex court has observed that dissent cannot be the reason for internet suspension and directed the government to give a detailed reason before deciding to suspend internet services.

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