New Delhi’s Supreme Court has rejected an urgent request to address a petition challenging the ongoing internet shutdown in Manipur. The state government has repeatedly extended the suspension of internet services, which began on May 3. Justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal, sitting on a vacation bench, stated that the regular bench would hear the case after the court’s summer break, which runs from May 22 to July 3. The Manipur High Court is already reviewing the matter, and the Supreme Court deemed it unnecessary to duplicate the proceedings.
The Manipur State counsel argued that the issue of the internet shutdown was already under consideration by the Manipur High Court, which had instructed the state government to address the matter.
The petitioners’ lawyer, Shadan Farasat, informed the vacation bench that the state government acknowledged a decrease in violence and clashes, raising the question of why the internet suspension was still in place. The petitioners emphasized that the 35-day-long internet ban prevented the general public from engaging in trade, occupation, and exercising their constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and expression. They argued that the shutdown order disproportionately interfered with constitutional rights and highlighted the contradiction between the state government’s claim of normalcy and the extended internet shutdown.
The petitioners challenged the state government’s repeated extensions of the internet shutdown, arguing that it effectively amounted to an indefinite ban. They also pointed out that the orders to block the internet only cited law and order concerns, rather than addressing public order issues. They contended that some suspension orders were not reviewed by the required Review Committee, suggesting a lack of due process. To support their case, they referred to a previous Supreme Court judgment that stressed transparency and accountability in publishing shutdown orders and declared indefinite internet shutdowns illegal under Indian law.
The petitioners further emphasized the adverse impact of the internet ban on the economic, humanitarian, social, and psychological aspects of people’s lives in Manipur. They highlighted the challenges faced by children unable to attend school, individuals unable to access funds or carry out business transactions, and the overall disruption of communication.
The petition was filed by Chongtham Victor Singh, a lawyer, and Mayengbam James, a businessman.
Written by- MD Arib khalique, College- Galgotia university, Semester-4th intern under Legal Vidhiya
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