The Supreme Court today today asked General Tushar Mehta to ask for directions from the Centre on the chance of opening 4G internet services in certain parts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Manoj Sinha has been named the new LG of Jammu and Kashmir after G C Murmu left the post.
Fast Internet service in J-K has been suspended since August 2019 when the Centre had revoked its special status and bifurcation of the state into two UTs – Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The top court said that with the new LG, nothing changes as the special panel is there to investigate the issue.
The top court was hearing a plea of the NGO looking for inception of contempt proceedings against the Union Home Secretary and Chief Secretary of J-K for their claimed “wilful defiance” in conforming to the court’s May 11 request.
At the beginning, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, showing up for the J-K organization advised the bench that he needs to accept directions as the LG has changed there and new LG has assumed control over yesterday.
The bench said that with the difference in LG, nothing changes as the high powered panel is there to investigate the issue.
It said that the court can’t state what the circumstances are on the ground level yet the issue is that the matter should not be postponed.
The seat asked Mehta to take directions on whether 4G administrations can be reestablished in specific zones.
Mehta said that there is no goal to postpone the issue as the top court’s structure has been conformed to in letter and soul and he would take guidelines.
The bench, including Justices NV Ramana, BR Gavai and Subhash R Reddy, was hearing a content appeal recorded by Foundation of Media Professionals, looking for sure quick restoration of 4G in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir.
The contempt petition was recorded to bring the Court’s focus to the obstinate failiure of government authorities in complying with the order of the Supreme Court, in spite of 29 days having passed since the judgment was conveyed on May 11, 2020.
Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, representing the applicants, presented that during the past hearing the SG had looked for time to go through the reply documented by the petitioners presenting that they have followed the court’s directions. However, they have not reacted at this point.
The bench, in any case, said that it was not saying anything at the moment, as the petitioners have depended on the statement of the Governor, however now the Governor has changed.
The bench additionally said that it will decide whether there is contempt or not after they get a reply from the centre.
On July 28, the Center and the J-K organization had told the top court that it will check the statements made by the Lt Governor of Jammu and Kashmir and BJP politician Ram Madhav that 4G Internet administration can be reestablished in the Union Territory, and asked for time to document an answer to the response oath recorded by a NGO.
Eduindex News 