Vrinda Grover arguing for Bhasin. @TheQuint
Transport and media restrictions are affecting their ability to function.
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No prepaid mobile services, no mobile data, no SMS, no broadband/wifi internet services.
This has"crippled" the ability of her newspaper and journalists to do their jobs.
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Grover reading from rejoinder they have submitted in response to this affidavit. Notes that access to internet is considered a fundamental right (right to speech incl rt to know)
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She cites arguments made in govt affidavit, about how these restrictions were imposed under the Telecom Services Suspension Rules 2017 @TheQuint
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dot.gov.in/circulars/temp…
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She reads the rules on which authorities can issue such orders, points out that these need to be assessed by a review committee to see if the orders are lawful @TheQuint
Judges get AG and other lawyers present to clarify that this law is the relevant one. AG says it has been amended from time to time to update.
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She now shows that one of these that AG KK Venugopal wanted to rely on only allowed for slowing net speed from 3G/4G to 2G, not to block internet. @TheQuint
She reads from an order that only argues need to restrict internet on basis of apprehension of misuse of data. But was then also used to restrict landlines - no reasoning for this was given. @TheQuint