Internet blackout during exam period: HC issues notice to govt

Ranchi: The Jharkhand high court on Friday directed the state govt to elaborate on the provisions and policies under which the mobile internet services in the state were suspended.
A division bench of Justice Ananda Sen and Justice Anubha Rawat Chaudhary issued the order while hearing a petition filed by Jharkhand State Bar Council chairman Rajendra Krishna who questioned the authority of the government in keeping internet services suspended for six hours.
Krishna wrote a letter to the registrar general of the high court addressing Acting Chief Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and informed about the notification of the govt that internet services in the state will remain suspended from 8 am to 1.30 pm on September 21 and September 22 because of the Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission, Combined Graduate Level, JSSC (CGL) exam.
Based on the letter sent by Krishna, the court took up the matter despite being a holiday and directed the govt to file its response within four weeks. The court, however, did not prohibit the govt from suspending the internet service on September 22.
Krishna, while arguing the matter, said the suspension of internet services affected commercial activities, including banking and transport. He also asked what would happen to the internet services if several examinations were being conducted over a period of time.
“If the govt intends to hold five exams in a month, then will the state suspend all internet services on the dates the exams will be held?” Krishna argued.