The Special Committee, constituted to review the restrictions on mobile internet speed in Jammu and Kashmir, will next review the situation around August 10, two months after it last met on June 10, according to a counter affidavit filed by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Supreme Court late Thursday night. In the two meetings that have taken place so far, where the situation was assessed, the Committee had decided that “no further relaxation of the restrictions on internet services, including 4G services” will be done at the present. However, as per the affidavit, if other “competent authorities”, who are regularly reviewing the situation, think there is an “improvement in the security situation”, “appropriate action” will be taken. On July 16, the apex court had directed the central government to file a counter affidavit within one week in response to the contempt petition filed by the Foundation for Media Professionals (FMP) in the Jammu and Kashmir 4G restoration case on June 9. Filed by Baijnath Prasad, the Deputy Secretary (Legal and Constitution) in the Home Ministry, the counter affidavit called FMP’s allegations that the Special Committee had not been constituted as per May 11 Supreme Court order “wholly wrong and misconceived”. The Print first reported this development but misstated that the the counter affidavit was filed on July 21. The counter affidavit was verified by Prasad on July 21, but was filed on July 22 as per the Supreme Court website. The case was supposed to be listed on…
