The Centre on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that restoration of full-fledged 4G mobile Internet services in Jammu and Kashmir would not be possible because of security concerns but that on a pilot basis, it would be restored in one district each in the two divisions of the Union Territory from August 15.

Attorney general K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, told a bench headed by Justice N.V. Ramana that the special committee constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir administration held three rounds of meetings with various stakeholders on August 10 where the decision was arrived at keeping in mind border security and national interests.

“Committee is of the view that the threat perception in J&K continues to be very high. Internet restrictions are not posing any hindrance to Covid care, education or business. Given the current security scenario situation, it is not yet conducive to restore high speed Internet access to mobile phones,” Venugopal told the bench also comprising Justices R. Subhash Reddy and B.R. Gavai.

The bench was dealing with a contempt petition filed by the Foundation for Media Professionals, an NGO, alleging wilful default by the Centre and J&K administration in not complying with the bench’s May 11 judgment directing the government to set up a committee to review the restoration of full-fledged Internet services.

Internet services, mainly 4G connectivity, had been withdrawn in the wake of abrogation of Article 370 on August 5 last year, with the government pleading that it would otherwise aid terrorists to intensify their activities in the two Union Territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh.