Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 30: Demanding restoration of high speed mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, former Vice Chancellor of Sai Nath University and native of Poonch, Dr Shazad Ahmed Malik has filed a petition with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India.
In his 6 page-long petition, the former VC has arrayed Union Home Secretary, Principal Secretary Home, J&K Union Territory and Chief General Manager, BSNL J&K Circle as party respondents to the plea.
In his submission before the NHRC, he has sought direction for the 1st two respondents for restoration of high speed mobile internet facility in the J&K UT and also urged the NHRC to further direct the Government owned telecom company, BSNL for publicize its policy in giving new landline internet facility to the people, alleging that there is lack of transparency in BSNL in installing connections.
While giving further details about his plea, Dr Shazad informed that due to 21-day lockdown in the wake of Coronavirus pandemic, the people of whole India including J&K are following all instructions and guidelines issued by the Government of India but the situation in other parts of the country and here in J&K is different because in other states of India, the students, teachers, medical professional, the religious preachers taking benefit of high speed internet have started e-classes and formed social groups online and spreading useful information with each other.
Moreover in absence of high speed internet facility in the J&K UT, the medical professionals are worst sufferers as they are not even able to have access to the website and applications (apps) of World Health Organization, Ministry of Health, Government of India and other local websites related to UT Government or districts’ administration.
Due to lockdown people are not able to move out and unfortunately they are not even able to use banking apps due to poor internet speed. Thus, he has made an appeal to the NHRC to further direct the respondents to restore the high speed mobile internet as telecom services are covered under essential services.
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