In a recent turn of events, the Supreme Court of India has agreed to consider a plea that contests the decision of the Manipur High Court to partially reinstate internet services in the state. The plea was brought to the attention of the apex court by Tushar Mehta, the Solicitor General of India, who is representing the State of Manipur in this matter.
Mehta highlighted,
“This is concerning internet shutdown in Manipur. Situation keeps changing…this is regarding the HC order passed.”
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) initially planned to schedule the hearing for the next day, but upon Mehta’s insistence, the court decided to hear the matter on the same day.
The bench, which included CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha, agreed to consider the plea alongside other petitions related to instances of violence in Manipur. However, the bench later decided to defer all the Manipur-related cases to the following day, allowing petitioners time to respond to the latest status report filed by the State.
On July 7, the Manipur High Court had directed the state government to lift the internet ban on Internet Lease Line (ILL) and Fibre To The Home (FTTH) connections, provided all stakeholders adhered to the safeguards suggested by an Expert Committee. This order was issued by Justices Ahanthem Bimol Singh and Guneshwar Sharma in response to several public interest litigations (PILs) advocating for the restoration of internet in the state.
Previously, on July 6, the Supreme Court had declined to entertain a petition challenging the ongoing internet ban in Manipur, which had been in effect since May 3, 2023, due to reported incidents of violence in the state. The bench, comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Manoj Misra, noted that the Manipur High Court was already addressing the matter, and therefore, the Supreme Court could not entertain the petition.
This case has garnered significant attention, as it pertains to the critical issue of internet access, a matter of growing importance in today’s digital age. The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the plea underscores the urgency and significance of the matter.