In a significant development aimed at maintaining public order, the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department on Friday ordered a temporary suspension of telecom services in the Bhaderwah area of Doda district. The suspension, effective from 2000 hours on May 22 to 2000 hours on May 27, 2025, covers all mobile data services including 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G and public WiFi.
According to Government Order No. Home-12(TSTS) of 2025 dated May 23, 2025, issued by the Principal Secretary to the Government, Home Department, the move comes in response to directions issued by the IGP Jammu Zone, designated as the “Authorized Officer” under Rule 3(1) of the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Services Rules, 2024. The Chenab Times also confirmed this order from Home Department’s official website.
The order explicitly states that “mobile data services temporarily (2G/3G/4G/5G and public wifi) on the below mentioned Tower IDs in Bhaderwah area of District Doda of Jammu Province w.e.f. 22.05.2025 (2000 hours) to 27.05.2025 (2000 hours)” are to be suspended. It further adds that the decision was taken as “mobile data services are likely to be misused by anti-national elements/miscreants, which may cause deterioration in public order.”
A detailed list of affected telecom towers has been annexed to the order, comprising both Reliance Jio and Airtel tower IDs. A total of 74 cell IDs from these two service providers have been directed to suspend operations in the specified region. The list includes tower codes such as 4058600C1260001 to 4058600F00114 under Jio, and codes from 405-55-394-33934437 to 405-55-394-23151465 under Airtel.
The order, citing the urgency and sensitive nature of the situation, notes that it was issued “without obtaining prior approval of the Competent Authority” in the interest of “sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of the State/UT and maintaining public order.” It invokes sub-rule (1) of Rule 3 of the Temporary Suspension of Telecommunication Service Rules, 2024 read with clause (f) of sub-section (2) of section 20 of the Telecommunication Act, 2023.
The official communication was signed by Mr. Chandraker Bharti, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Government, and directed for immediate compliance by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Copies have been marked to the IGP Jammu Zone, the I/C website of the Home Department, and other relevant government offices.
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