‘Very happy news for us, a huge relief’

The Supreme Court's observation that access to internet is a fundamental right has come as happy news for people in the Kashmir Valley yesterday with many expressing the hope that services will be resumed soon.

Internet access was snapped five months ago when Jammu and Kashmir's special status was revoked and the state bifurcated into two union territories, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The Supreme Court's ruling asking the Jammu and Kashmir administration to review within a week all orders imposing curbs in the union territory and saying that internet access is a fundamental right under Article 19 of the Constitution led to a sigh of relief in the Valley.

"It is a piece of very happy news for us, a huge relief, as the internet has been suspended for over five months now. We really hope that services will be resumed as soon as possible now," said Ishtiyaq Ahmad, a businessman in Lal Chowk area of the city.

He said trade and business has been badly affected since August 5 when authorities cut all internet services in the Valley.

 "Every sector has been badly affected. This has been the worst phase for business in the valley. The internet is a basic tool on which everyone, especially people associated with business, depend. We have struggled a lot without internet services," Ahmad said.

Another businessman associated with the tourism sector in the Valley is hoping the internet-dependent business will get a fillip.

"This will give a boost to the sector which is highly dependent on the internet. Everything in the sector depends wholly on internet services, from ticketing inquiries to reservations.

"Tourists also were wary of the suspension of the services and showed little interest in visiting the Valley. We are hopeful that this will give a fillip to tourism," he said.