by sflc_admin | April 18, 2016

The number of internet blackouts in India is on a rise over the last few years. In the first quarter of 2016, mobile internet services were suspended on four different occasions, out of which, two incidents were recorded in the state of Gujarat. Moreover, five different states witnessed a cut off from internet services in 2015. Most of these orders for internet shut down are given under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which authorizes state governments to take action to curb unlawful assemblies or to prevent apprehended danger. A Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging the use of this provision for restricting access to internet was filed earlier this year in the Supreme Court. However, the Apex Court dismissed the petition and upheld the power of state government under Section 144 to suspend internet services by stating that the use of such mechanisms becomes necessary for law & order situations.

In lieu of the ongoing increase in such instances, we have documented the internet blackouts in India along with the reasons for which such action was taken. Keep a watch on this page as we update it with instances of internet shut downs in the country.

Year	Place	Reason
2013	Jammu & Kashmir	TV News channels and mobile Internet banned immediately after Afzal Guru’s execution on 9th February, 2013
2014	Jammu & Kashmir	Internet blocked in the whole state to stop pro-independence leaders from addressing a UNHRC event in Geneva via video link on 17th March, 2014
2014	Vadodara, Gujarat	Mobile Internet blocked for three days starting 27th to 30th September, 2014 after riots over a morphed picture of a Muslim religious shrine
2015	Nagaland	Internet blackout for 48 hours on 7th March, 2015, after lynching video of a rape accused goes viral
2015	Gujarat	Mobile Internet services shut down in the entire state of Gujarat from 25th August to 2nd September, 2015 after a mega rally led by Hardik Patel seeking OBC status for the Patel community. Mobile internet remained blocked in Ahmedabad, even post 2nd September, 2015
2015	Manipur	Complete internet shut down (mobile and broadband, except for certain BSNL lines) starting 2nd September, 2015 after violence in Churachandpur district
2015	Jammu & Kashmir	Internet shut down during Eid on 25th September, 2015, apprehending violence against the prohibition on cow slaughter and selling of beef in the State.
2015	Rajasthan	After reports of caste & communal clashes in the area, mobile Internet services were shut down in 11 districts to combat inflammatory messages posted through social media networks, starting 19th December, 2015
2016	Haryana	Subsequent to the Jat reservation protest in Haryana, mobile Internet, and SMS services were blocked in many areas, including Rohtak, Sonepat, and Jhajjar, beginning 19th February, 2016.
2016	Gujarat	Mobile Internet services were suspended for 4 hours to prevent cheating on the Revenue Accountants Recruitment Exam on 28th February, 2016
2016	Jammu & Kashmir	To check rumor mongering about an incident that led to death of 4 people in a firing by security forces, mobile internet services were suspended in the area on 14th April, 2016.
2016	Gujarat	Pursuant to the Patel reservation agitation, mobile internet sevices were suspended in various parts of Gujarat on 17th April, 2016

censorship Internet Shutdown

First published here.

Original author: sflc_admin