Agencies

The Supreme Court on Monday denied the restoration of 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir and ordered the setting up of a high-powered committee to decide on this after accounting for the situation on the ground.

The top court said the order on restricting bandwidth services in Jammu and Kashmir didn’t take into consideration the district-wise threat perception.

It ordered the committee to take into account the district-wise security situation and accordingly take a call on lifting or restricting the curbs, it said.

A three-judge Bench, headed by Justice NV Ramana, said the court had to ensure national security and human rights were balanced. “We do recognize that UT has plunged into crisis,” said the top court.

At the same time court is cognizant to the concerns related to ongoing pandemic and hardships, it said.The top court had reserved its order after hearing lengthy arguments from Attorney General KK Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Centre and J&K Administration and senior advocates Huzefa Ahmadi and Salman Khurshid for the petitioners.

Citing a recent encounter in which five security personnel, including a Colonel, were killed in Kashmir, the J&K Administration had opposed the petitions, contending restoration of 4G internet services will lead to a further surge in terror activities.

There were three petitions on the issue, including one each by Foundation For Media Professionals and Private Schools Association of Jammu and Kashmir.