In yet another ludicrous overcorrection, the Rajasthan government has shut down the internet to curb cheating during the administrative services examination being held in the state. Mukesh Pareek, Deputy Secretary (Security) of the state's Home Department, confirmed to MediaNama that mobile internet services in various parts of the state will remain suspended from 9 am to 1 pm on October 27 in view of the exams. Barring 3-4 districts, internet services have been restricted everywhere in Rajasthan, according to Pareek. However, MediaNama could not access the order for the shutdown nor was it found on the Rajasthan government's websites at the time of publishing this report. Pareek also informed that Wi-Fi and SMS services were still operational. Last year, while hearing pleas on internet restrictions imposed in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, the Supreme Court declared that access to the internet is a fundamental right. It further asked magistrates signing off on internet shutdown orders to ‘apply their mind’ and ‘follow the doctrine of proportionality’. Internet shutdowns on exam days may be Rajasthan's new normal Earlier this month, parts of Rajasthan saw two shutdowns owing to examinations. According to reports, a petition has been filed before the Rajasthan High Court on the matter saying that the shutdown caused inconvenience to others preparing for other exams and happened without advance notice. On October 23 & 24: Internet was reportedly shut down in multiple districts - including Bikaner, Dausa, and Jaipur- for 12 hours during the Patwari recruitment exams On…
