38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, March 29, 2024
Executive

Union Law And Communication Minister Clarifies That Right To Internet Is Not A Fundamental Right In Itself

By LawStreet News Network      08 February, 2020 04:02 PM      0 Comments
Union Law And Communication Minister Clarifies That Right To Internet Is Not A Fundamental Right In Itself

Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Law and Communication Minister cleared the misconception regarding Right to Internet being a fundamental right. Addressing a query during Question Hour on 6 February, 2020 Union Minister said that the country’s security was equally important. He said that the decision to shut internet services is taken by local authorities, as it is a state subject, taking into consideration the law and order situation.

“The Supreme Court has clearly stated that no lawyer argued that right to Internet is a fundamental right. This kind of misconception needs to be corrected. What the Supreme Court has stated is that for communication of your ideas and views via the use of Internet will also to be held a part of your fundamental right of speech and expression,” said Prasad in reply.

He said that the abuse of the internet to spread violence and terrorist by Pakistan in Kashmir cannot be denied by anyone. “While right of Internet is important, security of the country is equally important.... Can we deny (that) Internet...is abused by terrorists...for violence and there have been attempts to create unrest in Kashmir from across the border through Internet,” Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

While answering a supplementary question by Leader of the opposition in the Upper House, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Prasad said that having been a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir he had also been on the hit list of terrorists and was well aware of abuse of Internet.

Internet has been curbed several times on account of its abuse and “what the Supreme Court has done is they have said temporary suspension of rules must be periodically reviewed”, he said.

“Once the Supreme Court has announced that the use of internet to propagate one’s opinion and ideas will be held to be fundamental rights and I will like to flag; this will also be subject to reasonable restrictions for public order, security and integrity of India,” he further added.

Ravi Shankar Prasad had recently visited Jammu and Kashmir on demand of apple growers at Sapore, which produces 300 varieties and sends out 450 trucks daily, had initiated the process of making it an e-mandi.

“People in Kashmir are happy,” he said and added voice, SMS and landline services have been restored in Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, while Broadband is functional in Jammu division.

“We have allowed it for white listed websites... there are 783 white-listed websites of government, banking, tourism, ecommerce, transportation, education,” he said.

 

Author: Nandini Gandhi



Share this article:

User Avatar
About:


Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS

arvind-kejriwals-plea-for-interim-release-rejected-by-delhi-high-court
Trending Judiciary
Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release rejected by Delhi High Court [Read Order]

Delhi High Court rejects Arvind Kejriwal's plea for interim release in money laundering case related to liquor policy scam, pending ED's response.

28 March, 2024 10:50 AM
youtuber-strings-plea-against-youtube-accounts-suspension-andhra-pradesh-hc-issues-notice-to-centre-google
Trending Top Stories
BREAKING: Youtuber String’s plea against Youtube accounts suspension: Andhra Pradesh HC issues notice to Centre, Google

Andhra Pradesh High Court issues notice to the Centre and Google LLC on Youtube journalist String’s plea against suspension of its accounts by Google (which owns Youtube).

28 March, 2024 11:26 AM

TOP STORIES

delhi-liquor-scam-court-remands-arvind-kejriwal-to-ed-custody-till-march-28-read-remand-application
Trending Judiciary
Delhi liquor scam: Court remands Arvind Kejriwal to ED custody till March 28 [Read Order]

Delhi liquor scam: Arvind Kejriwal remanded to ED custody till March 28. Court grants agency permission for interrogation in liquor policy case.

23 March, 2024 11:53 AM
sc-dismisses-centres-plea-for-review-of-judgment-directing-ed-to-furnish-written-grounds-of-arrest-to-pmla-accused
Trending Judiciary
SC dismisses Centre’s plea for review of judgment directing ED to furnish written grounds of arrest to PMLA accused [Read Order]

Supreme Court dismisses Centre's plea, upholds judgment mandating Enforcement Directorate to provide written grounds of arrest in PMLA cases.

23 March, 2024 03:14 PM
kerala-hc-to-hear-lesbian-couples-plea-against-forced-conversion-therapy-on-april-9
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC to hear lesbian couple’s plea against forced conversion therapy on April 9

Kerala HC will hear a lesbian couple’s plea highlighting that one of them was subjected to forced conversion therapy.

23 March, 2024 03:30 PM
how-can-people-be-compelled-to-vote-madras-hc-asks
Trending Judiciary
“How can people be compelled to vote? Madras HC asks

“How can people be compelled to vote?”, the Madras HC queried in a plea asking employers in Tamil Nadu to demand proof from employees of having voted on polling day.

23 March, 2024 05:04 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email