Srinagar, Jan 5: The District Magistrate Srinagar has ordered the immediate suspension of all Virtual Private Network (VPN) services within the territorial limits of Srinagar district for a period of two months, citing concerns over public order and cyber security.
The order, issued under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, follows a report from the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar, who flagged apprehensions that VPN services could be misused by vested interests with potential adverse implications for law and order in the district.
According to the administration, VPN services allow encrypted data transmission and create point-to-point tunnels that enable users to mask IP addresses and bypass firewalls and website restrictions. Such capabilities, the order said, carry the risk of being exploited for unlawful and anti-national activities, including the spread of inflammatory content, incitement of unrest and coordination of activities prejudicial to public safety.
The District Magistrate observed that unrestricted use of VPNs poses serious threats to cyber security, public safety and the protection of sensitive information, making immediate preventive action necessary in the larger public interest.
However, the order clarified that the suspension will not apply to authorised VPN usage by government departments, particularly those operating through the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
As serving individual notices was considered impractical, the order has been issued ex parte. Authorities have directed that it be given wide publicity through the district website, leading newspapers and by affixing copies on notice boards of the offices of the District Magistrate, SSP Srinagar, Sub-Divisional Magistrates of Srinagar East and West, and all tehsildars.
The Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar has been tasked with ensuring strict implementation of the order. (KNT)
