The ban on prepaid mobile services in Jammu and Kashmir was lifted Thursday by the Centre, which, 15 days ago, had specified security considerations as the main factor in front of the Supreme Court, for not revoking the ban. But even when the prepaid connections would now be allowed in the state, there would be very strict conditions which the service providers will have to follow, like 100% verification and re-verification of prepaid customers.

The list of verified and re-verified customers would then be given to the law enforcement agencies, J&K police and TERM cell, J&K. If in case the authorities find a negative report regarding the information, identity or address of the prepaid subscriber, the mobile connection shall be disconnected within two hours of receipt of the report by the authorities.

Apart from this, there are stringent conditions, which have been imposed on issue of second or multiple mobile connections, both pre-paid and post-paid. If in case a subscribed wants a second or multiple connections, then he/she will be required to specify the reasons for doing so along with revealing all other connections in his/her name as well as in the names of his/her family members. While no house will be permitted more than six connections, the degree of verification will get tougher with each succeeding request for the connection.

"As per the prepaid ban order that came into force on November 1, 2009, all mobiles in J&K with prepaid SIM cards would have fallen silent at the end of this month, the deadline set by the authorities for the existing prepaid subscribers to switch over to post-paid connections," explained a source on the condition of anonymity.

The reason cited for the ban by the government was the heavy use of mobiles, especially prepaid connections, by terrorist organizations in J&K as well as those functioning from Pakistan- occupied Kashmir as a ground for discontinuation of pre-paid services.