Mangaluru lawyers oppose jail mobile jammer; set Sept 14 deadline, warn of protest during Cabinet meeting
Mangalore Today News Network
Mangaluru, Sep 12, 2026: The Mangaluru Bar Association has urged the authorities to immediately resolve the problems caused by the mobile phone jammer installed at Mangaluru Central Prison, which it says has been disrupting mobile connectivity in and around the court premises and affecting educational institutions, hotels, residential facilities and business establishments for the past two years.
Association president Jagadish K. Shenava said the mobile jammer has severely affected communication within the court premises and surrounding areas. Litigants, advocates, court staff and members of the public have been facing difficulties due to poor mobile connectivity, affecting urgent communication, information exchange and routine court proceedings.
Students, teachers and staff of educational institutions located near the court have also been affected. Hotels, lodges and other commercial establishments are facing difficulties in customer service and day-to-day operations due to the connectivity problems.
The Bar Association said that while installing a mobile jammer may be necessary from the perspective of prison security, measures taken to prevent unauthorised mobile phone use inside the prison should not inconvenience ordinary citizens, the judiciary, educational institutions and businesses outside the prison.
It called for a technically sound system that restricts mobile signals within the prison premises without disrupting public life in the surrounding areas.
The association also pointed out that around 10 mobile phones were recently recovered during a police inspection at the prison, highlighting the need to strengthen security measures inside the facility. Disrupting mobile connectivity across a large area of the city cannot be considered an appropriate solution to the failure to prevent mobile phone use inside the prison, it said.
The Mangaluru Bar Association had earlier met the district in-charge minister and submitted a memorandum seeking a solution. The minister had assured the delegation that the matter would be brought to the attention of the Home Minister and resolved. However, the issue remains unresolved, the association said.
The association welcomed the decision to hold a Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru on September 18 as part of efforts to give greater priority to the development of the coastal region. However, it said it was ironic that discussions on developing Mangaluru as a major city were taking place while a key part of the city continued to face persistent mobile connectivity problems.
The Bar Association has demanded an immediate review of the jammer system and the implementation of a scientific and technically appropriate solution that does not disrupt the functioning of courts, educational institutions, businesses and public life.
Shenava warned that if the issue is not resolved by September 14, advocates will stage a protest during the Cabinet meeting scheduled to be held in Mangaluru on September 18. All advocates of the Mangaluru Bar Association will participate in the protest under his leadership, he said.
“Prison security is extremely important. At the same time, the government has a responsibility to find a balanced solution that does not affect the smooth functioning of the judiciary, public communication, educational institutions and commercial activities,” Shenava said.
He urged the government to take the matter seriously and initiate immediate action.