2 Manipur residents move Supreme Court opposing internet ban in the state

Internet has been shut in Manipur since May 3 when violence erupted. It has been shut since then

Opposing the ban on internet that has been in effect in Manipur since May 3 due violence that continues to rock the state, two persons from the state — Chongtham Victor Singh, a lawyer in the Manipur High Court, and Mayengbam James, a businessman have filed a petition before the Supreme Court stating that they and their families have suffered significantly due to the internet ban in terms of the economy, humanitarian aid, social life, and mental health.

They said that they are unable to communicate via email or WhatsApp, take their kids to school, access bank accounts, collect client payments, or distribute pay checks.

They stated that despite a gradual return to normalcy, the state-wide internet shutdown order issued on May 3 was extended five times resulting in an indefinite shutdown of the internet. As a result, internet connectivity has been totally cut off throughout the state, significantly affecting the rights of the petitioners and other citizens, the petition added.

According to the petitioners, the shutdown is an excessive interference with their constitutionally protected freedom of speech and expression (as guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a)) and the right to engage in any trade or activity (g)).

The petitioners further drew the Court’s attention to the fact that the State has yet to issue the impugned orders suspending internet services on either its website or Twitter account. 

The petitioner seeks the respondent to direct the “restoration of internet access” in Manipur and to deem the state’s internet shutdown “illegal.”

The petitioners also sought consequential instructions to ensure that the government abides by the Telecom Suspension Rules of 2017, Section 5(2) of the Telegraph Act of 1885, Articles 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, and the Supreme Court’s ruling in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India (2020) to ensure that the government respects their fundamental right to access the internet.

Manipur has been on the boil for over a month now since violence broke out in the state on May 3.

Over 80 lives have been lost, hundreds injured, thousands have been displaced, a huge trust deficit between communities have cropped up, people are fleeing from their homes in their own state.

The Home Ministry on Sunday, June 4 announced the setting up of a 3-member high-powered Commission of Inquiry to probe the incidents of violence in the state. 

The Commission will be headed by former Chief Justice of Gauhati High Court, Justice Ajai Lamba. The other members of the high-level panel are former IAS officer Himanshu Shekhar Das and former IPS officer Aloka Prabhakar.

Also Read: Home Ministry sets up 3-member high powered panel to probe Manipur violence

COMMENTS