The Jammu and Kashmir administration on January 14 allowed mobile internet in parts of Jammu region and broadband in establishments providing essential services, days after the Supreme Court ordered a review of the curbs imposed in the Union territory.

The order came into effect from January 15 and shall remain in force for seven days, a government communication said.

In a three-page order, the administration asked internet service providers to offer broadband facility (with Mac binding) to all institutions dealing with essential services such as hospitals, banks and government offices.

In order to facilitate tourism, broadband services would be provided to hotels and tour and travel establishments, the order said.

Mac binding essentially means to enforce a client machine to work from a particular Internet Protocol (IP) address.

“Prior to giving such facility, service providers have been asked to install necessary firewalls and carry out white-listing of sites that would enable government websites and websites dealing with essential services like e-banking,” the order said.

However, all social media sites remain out of bounds.

“There shall be complete restrictions on social media applications allowing peer-to-peer communication and virtual private network applications for the time being,” the order said.

The institutions and government offices that are being provided internet access shall be responsible for preventing misuse, according to the order.

It said the 2G mobile connectivity on postpaid mobiles for accessing white-listed websites including e-banking will be allowed in the districts of Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi - all in the Jammu region.

The order said that the police has brought to its notice material relating to terror modules operating in J&K, including handlers from across the border who are attempting to aid and incite people by transmission of fake news and targeted messages through the use of internet.

The relaxation came days after the SC said access to the Internet is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution.

The SC verdict had come on January 10 on a batch of pleas challenging the curbs imposed in J&K after the Centre’s abrogation of provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

The court had also asked the J&K administration to review within a week all orders imposing curbs in the Union territory.

It had asked the J&K administration to restore internet services in institutions such as hospitals and educational places providing essential services.

The J&K administration’s communication said that in view of the SC directions, the situation has been reviewed and internet has been opened wherever it was possible keeping in view the security consideration.

In Kashmir, 400 additional internet kiosks will be established, besides the 900 terminals that are already operational in the Valley.

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