Centre gets SC notice on mobile ban

The Supreme Court (SC) sought the Centre’s response on Monday to a petition challenging the ban on pre-paid mobile phone connections in Jammu and Kashmir.
It, however, refused to stay the — as petitioner Bhim Singh, chairman of J&K National Panthers Party, termed it — “arbitrary and authoritarian” ban. “The ban order is unconstitutional, improper, authoritarian and arbitrary and violative of articles 14, 19 and 21, among other provisions, of the Constitution of India,” Singh said.

He submitted an affidavit claiming that mobile phone service providers in the Valley earned Rs195 crore by way of advance securities and replacing pre-paid connections with post-paid ones within days of the ban becoming effective. At least 25,000 special police officers and village defence committee members operating in jungles and remote areas stood cut off from their headquarters because of the ban, Singh said. The near absence of communication for the common man could end up in catastrophy during a militant attack, he said.