A newspaper article dated 25.09.2021 published in Times of India titled ‘REET exam: Mobile internet services to remain suspended from 6AM to 6PM in Rajasthan districts today’.

The said article stated that the Rajasthan government has shut down internet services on 26th September 2021 in 5 of its districts to ensure that no cheating takes place during the REET 2021 exams. The districts where Internet services will be suspended are Alwar, Dausa, Jhunjhunu, Jaipur rural districts. The internet services will remain suspended from 6AM  to 6PM on 26th September 2021. 

SFLC.in sent a representation to the Government of Rajasthan  requesting the state government to reconsider shutting down the internet to prevent cheating in exams in future and to restore Internet services in the districts at an urgent basis.

Suspending Internet services to prevent cheating in exams is a grave violation of  The Temporary Suspension Of Telecom Services (Public Emergency Or Public Safety) Rules, 2017  as well the decision of the honorable Supreme Court of India in Anuradha Bhasin V. Union of India.

Internet shutdowns have a harrowing impact on citizens and are often disproportionate in nature. Internet shutdowns are bound to cause economic loss, an impact on education, healthcare and other welfare schemes. An internet shutdown during a pandemic can be especially grave considering citizens depend on the internet to get information, work and study.