Centre grants J&K L-G telecom powers under Telecommunications Act 2023
The Central government on 8 May 2025 authorised the Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor to exercise sweeping powers over telecom services in the union territory, including signal interception, service suspension, and message decryption, under the Telecommunications Act, 2023. The move, formalised through a gazette notification, is aimed at strengthening the administration's hand during public emergencies and national security operations in J&K.
What the Order Says
According to the official notification, the President of India directed the L-G of Jammu and Kashmir to exercise the powers and discharge the functions of the state government under Sub-Section 20(2) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (44 of 2023), which governs situations involving public safety and national security.
The gazette notification reads:
