Assam Shuts Down Mobile Internet for Government Exam on 27th October, Details Inside

Guwahati: Mobile internet services will remain suspended across Assam from 8.30 am to 4 pm on Sunday for conduct of a government recruitment exam, an official tification said on Friday.

This would be third such instance in two months.

Mobile internet, mobile WiFi and mobile data services of all service providers will remain suspended from 8.30 am to 4 pm "in interest of holding free, fair and transparent written examination and also to prevent arising of any law and order issues having a bearing on public safety", order said.

It ded that voice calls and broband connectivity based on fixed telephone lines shall remain functional during period.

Mobile internet services were suspended on September 15 and 28 this year during conduct of similar exams for Gre 3 posts by state-level recruitment commission.

In first instance, mobile internet services were suspended for four hours in nearly all districts on two days in August 2022 when written examinations for Gre 3 and 4 posts under State Level Recruitment Commission (SLRC) were conducted for first time.

Written examinations by Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB) for Gre 4 posts will be conducted in two shifts in 28 districts on Sunday.

Altoger 8,27,130 candidates have applied to appear in recruitment examination to be conducted for HSLC level posts in first shift from 9 am to 11.30 am at 1,484 centres.

A total of 5,52,002 candidates have applied to appear in examination to be conducted for Class VIII level posts in second shift from 1.30 pm to 4 pm at 808 centres.

Among examination centres are some that have a past history of malpractices, order signed by Ajay Tewari, ditional Chief Secretary, Home and Political department, said.

order said that it has been observed on earlier occasions that some unscrupulous elements resorted to unfair means using different mobile applications that are based on internet.

It also maintained that re exists a substantial apprehension that anti-social elements or organised groups could try to resort to rumour-mongering through social media and may try to destabilise process of examination.

To ensure that are loopholes in examination process which might create doubt or mistrust in public mind and reby create law and order issues having a bearing on public safety, government has decided to "plug all possible loopholes including resorting to temporary disabling of mobile internet/mobile data connectivity", order ded.

Any violation of promulgation will be punishable under Section 223 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and also under relevant provision of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, it said.

(Except for heline, this story has t been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)