J&K's Doda Imposes Two-Month VPN Ban, Raising Executive Power Questions

Authorities in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir have imposed a two-month ban on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). This is the latest in a series of similar orders across the Union Territory and has prompted legal questions regarding the application of the relevant legal provision.

The order, issued on September 5 by Doda District Magistrate Krishan Lal, invokes Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which replaced Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The ban prohibits individuals, institutions, cyber cafes, and businesses within Doda from using VPNs without explicit government authorization. Violators face prosecution.

According to authorities, "certain individuals and groups" have misused VPNs to "circumvent lawful cyber restrictions and access prohibited applications, websites and digital content," which they claim poses "a serious threat to public tranquillity and national security." The Senior Superintendent of Police, Doda, is responsible for enforcing the ban.

This is not the first VPN ban in Doda or J&K. A similar two-month ban was imposed in May 2025. Additional similar orders were extended to several other districts in late December 2025, citing police reports of "unprecedented" VPN usage.

Legal experts have criticized the use of Section 163 for these bans, arguing that the provision was intended for physical public order situations, not for regulating digital tools. Furthermore, it is contended that India's Information Technology Act already sufficiently regulates online conduct and cybersecurity, making the VPN bans legally unsound. Using a VPN is not illegal in India, and the technology is even recommended for enhancing cybersecurity. Authorities, however, defend the bans on security grounds, citing the region's volatile situation and claims that VPNs could be used to incite unrest and coordinate activities.