Hearing On Pleas Seeking Restoration of 4G Internet In Jammu and Kashmir [Live-Updates From Supreme Court]

Ahmadi: In light of the #pandemic court should allow access to 4G internet speed. Let them open internet speeds for a week, and see if there is any nexus with terrorism. They can consider week by week.

Justice Gavai: "We cannot go into facts and figures in detail over Video-conferencing"

Ahmadi: "They're broadly arguing National security but they have not been able to show any direct nexus [between 4G & terrorism in #JammuAndKashmir]"

"Has there been any study to show any direct link between 4G Internet and terrorist activities? The averment that terrorist activities have increased due to 4G is wrong. According to their own data and averments....Look at the number of incidents!"- Ahmadi

Senior Advocate Huzefa Ahmadi: "According to the numbers, terrorist activities [In #JammuAndKashmir] were more in the 1990s when there was, in fact, no internet at all"

Justice Suryakant  "With these kind of technical glitches on VC, it's not possible to hear every argument in detail. Tell us what we can do at this time?"

Justice Ramana: "Govt is showing that there has been a surge in terrorist activities owing to 4G"

Representations have been filed by doctors showing they cannot access latest medical information and studies [In #JammuAndKashmir]"

- Ahmadi

Link to Sr. Adv. Huzefa Ahmadi snaps. Connections dropped. Huzefa back on screen.

"It's for the government to explain how internet restriction is justified. Court cannot mechanically defer to the government's statement that the restriction is Justified.

Bald statements that healthcare and access to information have not been effected are unfounded."

Ahmadi

Government Order of April 27, 2020 has itself admitted that restrictions on internet speeds has impacted health.

Internet Restrictions [In #JammuAndKashmir] affects:

Right to livelihood;

Access to telemedicine;

Mental health;

Right to access information.

Ahmadi again reading from his affidavit

"The govt affidavit says audio and video streaming mediums are being used. But YouTube, zoom etc can't be used in 2g. Aarogya Setu app of the govt is extremely difficult to download or use on a 2g network. WHO dashboard needs 4G internet"

Bench: So you're saying we should ignore security concerns [In #JammuAndKashmir]?

Ahmadi: We are not talking of normal times today. We have to keep in mind, health concerns in a #pandemic. In normal times the government can raise concerns of security as it impacts freedom.