Telecom Powers – Jammu and Kashmir LG Granted Emergency Communication Authority

Telecom Powers – The Central government has officially authorised the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise key telecom-related powers during situations involving public safety concerns and emergencies in the Union Territory. The decision was announced through a gazette notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

Authority Issued Under Constitutional Provisions

According to the notification, the President of India, acting under Article 239(1) of the Constitution, has directed that the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir will perform the responsibilities assigned to a state government under Section 20(2) of the Telecommunication Act, 2023. These powers will remain effective until further orders are issued by the Centre.

The order further clarifies that the Lieutenant Governor will carry out these functions under the supervision and authority of the President of India. The move formally identifies the office of the Lieutenant Governor as the competent authority for telecom-related decisions in the Union Territory.

Change in Administrative Control

Before the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir into a Union Territory, such telecom and communication-related powers were exercised by the elected state government. Following the latest notification, these responsibilities now stand transferred to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration.

Officials said the decision aligns administrative procedures in Jammu and Kashmir with the legal framework laid out under the recently enacted Telecommunication Act, 2023. The notification also provides clarity regarding who can take emergency communication-related decisions within the Union Territory.

Powers Include Communication Monitoring and Restrictions

Under the authority granted through the notification, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha can approve measures related to telecom surveillance and communication control whenever required under the law. These measures may include temporary suspension of telecom services, interception of calls and messages, and monitoring of communication networks during emergencies or situations linked to public safety concerns.

The provisions are intended to be used in exceptional circumstances and are linked to maintaining security, law and order, and public safety within the Union Territory. Similar provisions are available to governments in other parts of the country under existing telecom and security laws.

Telecom Act 2023 Expands Administrative Framework

The Telecommunication Act, 2023 replaced several older laws governing telecom services in India and introduced updated provisions related to national security, telecom infrastructure, user protection, and emergency communication management. The latest notification marks one of the significant administrative implementations of the law in Jammu and Kashmir.

Observers note that the decision could play an important role during emergency situations where authorities may require immediate control over communication systems to coordinate security operations or manage public safety challenges. At the same time, such powers are generally expected to be exercised within the legal safeguards provided under Indian law.