SRINAGAR: The Centre on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that it does not maintain a central record of internet shutdowns imposed by States and Union Territories, as police and public order fall under the State List of the Constitution.
In a written reply to an unstarred question, Minister of State for Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar said details of temporary internet suspension orders issued by State Governments and Union Territories are not maintained by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). He added that orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) are available on the ministry’s website.
The minister said the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024, framed under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, require the competent authority to first explore all reasonable alternatives before ordering suspension of internet services to address a public emergency or public safety concern.
If a shutdown is considered necessary, the order must clearly state the reasons, specify the geographical area affected and remain in force only for a defined period, the House was informed.
The Centre further stated that internet suspension is permitted only as a measure of last resort and, therefore, the Department of Telecommunications has not undertaken any assessment of the economic impact of such shutdowns.
The reply came in response to queries seeking the number of internet shutdowns imposed across the country over the past three years, the reasons for such suspensions, their economic impact and safeguards against unnecessary disruption of digital services.
