Supreme Court Refuses Urgent Intervention In A Petition Against Internet Shutdown In Manipur

The Supreme Court's Vacation Bench refused to urgently entertain a petition against the internet "ban" in Manipur, stating that there was no valid reason to intervene, amidst the government's claim of a decrease in violence and clashes in the State.

Advocate Shadan Farasat Appeared for the petitioners before the Vacation Bench of the Apex Court, comprising of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal. In his plea, he mentioned that the ban has persisted for more than 35 days.

Farasat argued that the shutdown order excessively violated the constitutional rights to freedom of speech, expression, and to use the internet for business. He claimed that the order infringed upon the right of citizens to access the internet, in accordance with the Constitution.

Manipur State's counsel said in response that the Manipur High Court was already apprised of the internet shutdown issue, and had ordered the state government to look into it. The Vacation Bench informed Farasat that the case will be listed before the Regular Bench after the summer holidays, as the State High Court was already apprised of the issue.

Notably, the shutdown order aims to prevent social media from being used by anti-social elements to incite public unrest, due to concerns over law and order. However, the petition stated that the internet shutdown orders do not counter any prolonged risk or emergency to public safety.

This comes as the State of Manipur was engulfed in clashes after a court order directing consideration of inclusion of Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category resulted in clashes, violence, arson, and killings, leading to a complete shutdown.