RTI reply from Rajasthan Home Department reveals 26 unreported Internet Shutdowns

We at SFLC.in have been tracking incidents of Internet shutdowns across India in an attempt to draw attention towards the number and frequency of shutdowns, which are imposed for reasons ranging from curbing unrest to preventing cheating during examinations. This data is made publicly available in the form of an interactive Internet Shutdown Tracker hosted on our dedicated website www.internetshutdowns.in, which also features additional resources on the topic.

Over the years, we have noticed a staggering increase in the number and frequency of shutdowns. Whereas in 2012 only 3 shutdowns were reported, all in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the number rose to 70 in 2017 across 19 states. And as of July 2018, 68 shutdowns have already been recorded across 14 states, bringing the total number of shutdowns recorded since 2012 to 197. It’s worth noting that this number is the highest anywhere in the world.

In the absence of any reliable means to gain access to Internet shutdown orders issued by various Government agents, our data is collected mostly from media reports (online and print). Over the course of the project we have expanded to include a citizen reportage mechanism i.e. a mechanism for citizens in or around affected areas to bring instances of shutdowns to attention, and provide input on how the shutdowns affected them and their communities. Nevertheless, all data recorded by our tracker continues to be secondary, which means it is entirely possible for shutdowns that are not reported by the media or affected citizens to be absent from the tracker.

In order to get a sense of the true extent of unreported shutdowns (if any), we filed an application under the Right to Information Act 2005 to the Rajasthan Home Department in April 2018, asking the following question among others: “what is the exact number of Internet Shutdowns that were ordered in Rajasthan during 07.08.2017 to 01.05.2018?”. This time-frame was chosen because the Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency and Public Safety) Rules, 2017 – the current enabling legislation for Internet shutdowns – was enacted on August 8, 2017, and there was a good chance that consolidated data on shutdowns imposed under the Rules would be available with Central and State Home Departments.

We received a response from the Home Department stating that our applications had been forwarded to various district-level departments, and that we would be receiving the requested information from those departments. As of the time of writing this blog post, we have received further replies from 23 of the 33 districts in Rajasthan, revealing that there have been 40 instances of Internet shutdowns between 07.08.2017 and 01.05.2018 across these 23 districts. Considering that our tracker had recorded only 14 instances of Internet shutdowns across all of Rajasthan during the same time period, it can be gathered that there were at least 26 unreported instances of Internet shutdowns in Rajasthan alone during the eight-odd months in question.

Below is the comprehensive list of shutdowns that we have collated from the replies received as the RTI responses.

S. No.	Date	Time Period	District	Reason
1	01/09/2017	24 Hours	Sikar	Precautionary measure due to some social media post feared to result into disruption of law and order.
2	02/09/2017	48 Hours	Sikar	Precautionary measure to prevent communal violence.
3	10/09/2017	24 Hours	Sikar	Precautionary measure to prevent communal violence.
4	1/10/2017	24 Hours	Pratapgarh	No reason given
5	1/10/2017	24 Hours	Chittorgarh	No reason given
6	28/10/2017	24 Hours	Jalore	In the light of an accident that took place, which in turn could cause communal tensions. Internet services were suspended as a precautionary measure maintain public order.
7	2/12/2017	96 Hours	Chittorgarh	As a precautionary measure to prevent communal tensions
8	6/12/2017	24 Hours	Rajasmand	Following the death of a youth and when its video went viral, Internet services were suspended to prevent tension and public disorder.
9	14/12/2017	48 Hours	Rajasmand	Following the communal tension caused by a rally which took place without seeking approvals from authorities, Internet services were suspended as a precautionary measure to prevent further tension.
10	02/01/2018	192hours (8 days)	Boondi	In the wake of protest being carried out by different communities on the occasion of Pooja ceremony on Tiger Hill located in Boondi, Rajasthan
11	11/02/2018	7 Hours	Jalore	Internet services were suspended to prevent cheating in REET Exam
12	11/02/2018	17 hours	Dhaulpur	Internet services were suspended to prevent cheating in REET Exam
13	11/02/2018	6 hours	Bikaner	Internet services were suspended to prevent cheating in REET Exam
14	11/02/2018	3 hours	Sikar	Internet services were suspended to prevent cheating in REET Exam
15	11/02/2018	4 hours	Karauli	Internet services were suspended to prevent cheating in REET Exam
16	24/03/2018	24 Hours	Sikar	Precautionary measure due to some social media post feared to disrupt of law and order
17	02/04/2018	24 Hours	Dhaulpur	Bharat Bandh
18	02/04/2018	27 Hours 30 minutes	Sikar	Bharat Bandh
19	02/04/2018	24 Hours	Sirohi	Bharat Bandh
20	02/04/2018	26 Hours 30 minutes	Bikaner	Bharat Bandh
21	02/04/2018	48 Hours	Doongarpur	Bharat Bandh
22	02/04/2018	6 hours	Udaipur	Bharat Bandh
23	02/04/2018	47 hours	Karauli	Bharat Bandh
24	09/04/2018	24 Hours	Jaipur	As a precautionary measure to prevent communal tensions
25	10/04/2018	7 hours	Karauli	In order to maintain law and order during the Bharat Bandh protest by business communities and unions
26	14/04/2018	12 hours	Karauli	Mobile Internet services were suspended in the district of Karauli, on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti as precautionary measure as there existed a possibility of disruption of law and order through social media.

These responses illustrate that a large number of unreported Internet shutdowns do indeed go unreported, which means the actual number of shutdowns in India is likely much higher than what our Internet Shutdowns Tracker reflects. We are awaiting replies from other states and districts, and will update this blog as and when we receive them. Additional shutdowns brought to light by the replies will be added to our tracker and linked back to this post.

The telecom suspension orders issued in the above mentioned unreported instances of Internet Shutdowns are provided below:

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