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The Supreme Court will hear on July 17, a petition filed by the State of Manipur, challenging the Manipur High Court order, which directed the Manipur government to lift the ban on providing internet through Internet Lease Line (ILL).
Advocate Kanu Aggarwal mentioned the matter today before the Bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Manoj Mishra, which agreed to take it up on July 17.
On July 7, the High Court of Manipur had directed the state government to lift the ban on providing internet through Internet Lease Line (ILL) across the state after ensuring that all the stakeholders had complied with the safeguards given by the Expert Committee, constituted earlier by the court.
The High Court passed the order on a bunch of petitions seeking restoration of internet services in the state. Filed by students and other people residing in the state, the Public Interest Litigation (PILs) mentioned the hardships being faced by the public in availing urgent and essential services.
The High Court had earlier noted the difficulties faced by the students while trying to enroll with educational institutes since the admission process was currently underway across the country.
The government of Manipur had imposed an indefinite ban on internet services on May 3, following large-scale violence in the state due to clashes between the Meetei/Meitei community and the Kuki tribe.
The internet ban was imposed after the Manipur High Court asked the government to ‘consider’ inclusion of the Meetei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe list. This led to widespread clashes between tribal and non-tribal communities leading to loss of several lives and damage to property worth crores of rupees.
On June 9, the Supreme Court had refused to grant urgent hearing to a petition challenging the internet shutdown in Manipur.
The Vacation Bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal stated that the matter was already being heard by the Manipur High Court and that there was no need for a duplicate proceeding.
Appearing for the petitioners before the Apex Court, lawyer Chongtham Victor Singh and businessman Mayengbam James said that despite ‘a clear and admitted de-escalation’ of the situation’, the Manipur government has not taken up the State-wide internet shutdown orders .
The petitioners stated that blocking orders cite law and order and anti-social elements rather than public order, and the latest extensions did not go through the oversight of the Review Committee as necessary in law.
It was further submitted that the orders were grossly disproportionate as they prevented the residents from exercising their fundamental rights of freedom of speech and freedom to carry on trade and occupation.
The PILs said the internet ban did not serve a legitimate goal, and did not have a direct nexus with the purpose of law and order given the ground situation at present.
The notifications on internet ban have not been published on any website or social media and therefore, residents have not been able to make alternative arrangements or challenge such ban, it was submitted.
(Cause Title: State of Manipur vs Aribam Dhanajoy Sharma)