Jahanvi Agarwal
Recently, Manipur High Court has ordered the State authorities to offer the public limited internet service in specifically defined locations under State’s control. The bench consisted of Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh and Justice A.Guneshwar Sharma who issued the said order while hearing a bunch of Public Interest Litigations (PILs) regarding the restoration of internet in the State.
Since May 3, the state has maintained a ban on internet use owing to violence related to a High Court order to consider giving the Meitei community the status of a Scheduled Tribe. The state government has issued a number of orders prolonging the shutdown.
The bench stated that the public must have access to the Internet in order to perform any urgent or necessary tasks, particularly when it comes to the ongoing admissions process for students.
In order to protect the state government’s concern for maintaining law and order, the bench has also requested that commercial telecom service providers submit affidavits outlining the viability of offering restricted internet services to the general public by banning social networking websites.
Last week, the Supreme Court asked:
“The High Court is hearing the matter. What’s the need to duplicate proceedings?”
Hence, it turned down an urgent listing of a petition that contested the State’s internet shutdown, noting that the High Court was already hearing the case.
Case Name: Aribam Dhananjoy Sharma @ Paojel Chaoba & 2 ors Vs State of Manipur & 4 Ors.
Diary Number: 25/2023
Bench: Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh and Justice A.Guneshwar Sharma