Manipur High Court: In a batch of Public Interest Litigation petitions for restoration of internet services in the State of Manipur, the Division Bench of Ahanthem Bimol Singh* and A. Guneshwar Sharma JJ., directed the State to provide limited internet services to the public in some designated places under the control of the State authorities.
In the matter at hand, there has been internet ban in the State since the outbreak of violence in the State over High Court’s Order for inclusion of Meitei Community in the Scheduled Tribes List.
The Court directed various Service Providers to file an affidavit explaining as to whether there is any feasibility for providing limited internet services to the public by blocking social media websites and by safeguarding the concern of the State Government to maintain law and order in the State.
Further, the Court said that taking into consideration the hardships faced by the public specially regarding the ongoing admission process of the students in the State and to enable the public for carrying out their urgent and essential services, the State authorities were directed to provide limited internet service to the public in some designated places under the control of the State authorities.
[Aribam Dhananjoy Sharma v. State of Manipur, 2023 SCC OnLine Mani 179, Decided on 16-06-2023]
*Judgment Authored by: Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh
