Security audit of 45 websites nears completion, but portals like SMC, JMC still down; citizens face service disruptions
WAJAHAT SHABIR
SRINAGAR: Over 110 government websites across Jammu and Kashmir continue to remain offline due to non-compliance with cybersecurity norms mandated by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In).
While officials say that 45 websites have entered the final stage of the mandatory security audit and are expected to go live soon, citizens continue to suffer from disruptions to essential services.
A senior official from the Jammu and Kashmir e-Governance Agency (JaKeGA) confirmed:“Approximately 110 websites are currently undergoing various phases of security audit, with 45 of them in their final stage, poised to go live soon.”
The outage has impacted key departments including the Information Technology Department, ironically responsible for overseeing the digital governance infrastructure in the Union Territory. As per guidelines issued by the General Administration Department in March 2024, no government website can remain live without a valid “Safe to Host” certificate following an annual security audit.
The continued shutdown of public-facing websites has disrupted services ranging from municipal functions to recruitment and salary disbursal systems. Residents in Srinagar say the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) website being down has severely hindered their ability to lodge complaints, access civic documents, or pay taxes online.
Similarly, other platforms like Housing and Urban Development, JMC, H&ME and other websites have also been offline, affecting thousands of employees, job seekers, and students.
“Government websites are down for more than a month now, and it’s becoming impossible to get anything done. Even utility services are inaccessible,” said Aadil Ahmed, a university student in Srinagar preparing for state recruitment exams.
The JaKeGA has roped in CERT-In empanelled auditing agencies to speed up the process. Officials maintain that all affected departments have been directed to ensure their websites are audited and certified before going live again.
“We are in constant touch with these departments and are hopeful that all sites will be functional in the coming days,” the JaKeGA official added.
Another official informed that Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo convened a high-level meeting on Friday to review and enhance the cyber security framework for the Government assets and websites in the Union Territory.
The meeting also emphasized continuous capacity building for the officers and officials to promote a culture of cyber hygiene.
During the meeting it was informed approximately 110 websites are currently undergoing various phases of security audit, with 45 of them in their final stage, poised to go live soon.
