Centre empowers LG Sinha with telecom powers for emergencies, public Safety

Irfan Yattoo
Srinagar: The Centre has authorised the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise telecom-related powers in the interest of public safety and during emergencies in the Union Territory.
According to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, the President, under Article 239 of the Constitution, has directed that the LG shall exercise the powers of the State government under Section 20(2) of the Telecommunication Act, 2023, until further orders. These powers will be exercised under the control of the President.
The move formally vests telecom-related authority with the LG in J&K, a role earlier held by the state government prior to its reorganisation.
Under these provisions, the LG can order monitoring of telecom communications, permit lawful interception of calls and messages, and temporarily suspend transmission services during public emergencies or in the interest of public safety.