The government told a three-judge bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra that installation of jammers in school buses was “not possible” and they were coming out with steps to deal with the menace of child pornography in its entirety.
A school there recently tested a cell phone signal jammer to get kids focused on academics, but admitted the move may not be legal. They’re checking with the FCC. “We just thought it was something we wanted to evaluate,” said Principal John Hook.
If permitted, the school will jam cell phone frequencies during class time but not between classes or during lunch. “We believe that there are times during the school day that parents need to have access to students and students need to have access to family members, and doctors and things like that,” said Hook.
Use of mobile phones by inmates has been a menace that could not be controlled owing to the alleged connivance of some prison staff. Many crimes were believed to have been planned in prisons by gangsters who used mobile phones to communicate the plot to their henchmen outside.
Canada had considered allowing blocking in similar situations. But Industry Canada, which regulates the country’s telecommunications, decided against it, saying the devices could infringe on personal freedom and affect public safety by crippling communication with law enforcement and security agencies.
According to a senior ECIL official, the German cell phone jammer were found to be very effective when installed for VVIP security, in prisons and other sensitive establishments. “We have installed them in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand central prisons where a large number of Maoists are lodged in high security blocks. The security protocol of the Jharkhand Chief Minister includes these gadgets…they have placed order for more jammers now,” the official who preferred not to be quoted said.