The district administration in Srinagar has ordered the immediate suspension of all Virtual Private Network (VPN) services within the district for a period of two months, citing concerns related to public safety, law and order, and cyber security.
According to an order issued by District Magistrate Srinagar Akshay Labroo, IAS, the decision has been taken under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following a report submitted by the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar.
The order states that the police had apprehensions about the misuse of VPN services by vested interests within the jurisdiction of district Srinagar, which could have an adverse effect on public order and cyber security.
It said such services have the potential to be exploited for unlawful purposes, including inciting unrest, disseminating inflammatory material, and coordinating activities prejudicial to the maintenance of law and order.
The administration noted that VPN services transmit encrypted data and create point-to-point tunnels that conceal IP addresses, enabling users to bypass website restrictions and firewalls. This, the order said, poses risks to cyber security and renders sensitive data and information vulnerable to cyber threats.
“In the interest of public safety, maintenance of law and order, and protection of sensitive information from potential cyber exploitation, it has become imperative to take immediate preventive measures,” the order said.
The District Magistrate has ordered the suspension of all kinds of VPN services in the territorial jurisdiction of district Srinagar for two months from the date of issuance of the order, unless withdrawn earlier.
However, the order clarified that the suspension will not apply to authorised VPN usage by government departments through the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
The order has been passed ex-parte, stating that it is not feasible to serve notice individually upon all concerned persons. The administration has directed that the order be given wide publicity through the district website, leading newspapers, and by affixing copies on notice boards of government offices.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, has been directed to ensure strict implementation of the order in letter and spirit.(KNS).
