How The Communications Shutdown Is Hampering Medical And Health Services In Jammu & Kashmir

A Kashmir-based medical professional has moved the Supreme Court seeking the restoration of landlines and high-speed internet in all hospitals and medical establishments.

Dr. Sameer Kaul has moved this petition as a Public Interest Litigation, seeking to mitigate the adverse effect of the communications blackout on medical services, and consequently, on the health of the people in the Kashmir region. The erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir has seen internet shutdowns more than 180 times in the past 7 years, the petition states. In 2018 alone, internet services in the Valley were cut off about 65 times; 55 such instances have taken place this year thus far. In 2016, the internet remained shut for 133 days – the longest duration of such a blackout so far. Pointing at these figures, the petition also prays to the Court to direct the government to desist from imposing such blackouts in the region.