THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Ranchi, Sept 21: The Jharkhand High Court today sought a reply from the State government on whether internet services could be suspended for holding examinations.
Hearing a PIL, filed against the shutdown of internet services in the state for holding the Combined Graduate Level (CGL) examinations by the JSSC, Justice Ananda Sen and Justice Anubha Rawat Chaudhary, asked the state government to file a reply on the policy for shutting down the internet. “Will the internet be shut down in this manner during all examinations?” the court asked.
Refusing to stay the suspension order, the court has directed the state government to file a reply in this matter through an affidavit within four weeks.
IT Act on grounds for internet suspension
Section 69 (1) of the IT Act empowers the State government to suspend internet services on the grounds of “interest of the sovereignty or integrity of India, defence of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign States or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above or for investigation of any offence…”
AG defends State govt
Advocate General Rajiv Ranjan defended the state government’s decision to hold the examinations fairly.
The state government argued that only mobile internet has been shut down as a precaution to avoid any kind of disturbance in the examination. The rest of the internet facilities are running as before.
Rajendra Krishna says it is violation of IT Act
State Bar Council Chairman Rajendra Krishna, who filed the petition, argued the internet suspension for holding the examination is a violation of the Information Technology Act.
“It has hit all the routine works of the people,” he added.
Notably, given the Jharkhand Graduate Level Combined Competitive Examination (JGGLCCE), internet service was suspended in Jharkhand from 8 am to 1.30 pm today. This situation will remain tomorrow as well.
823 examination centres have been set up across the state. About 6.40 lakh candidates are appearing in this examination in the state.
The Home Department order stated that complaints of paper leaks etc. have been received earlier through mobile phones, internet media, WhatsApp, X, Telegram YouTube etc. Therefore, it was decided to suspend internet service, it added.
Assam Govt shows the way
Notably, the Assam government suspended the internet services to hold the examination for class III posts a week back.
Taking credit, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today asserted that the Jharkhand government has “learnt” from the northeastern state the idea of suspending internet services during recruitment examinations.
“The Congress has been criticising me for suspending the internet during the conduct of examinations. But their government in Jharkhand is doing the same,” Sarma told reporters at Bezera in Kamrup district.
“They have learnt from us. And it means that Assam is showing the path to the country now,” the BJP leader, who is the party’s co-in-charge for Jharkhand, said.
