Supreme Court declines urgent hearing on plea challenging internet shutdown in Manipur
New Delhi (IANS) | The Supreme Court on Friday declined urgent hearing of a petition challenging the internet shutdown in violence-hit Manipur from May 3. A vacation bench of Justice Aniruddha Bose and Justice Rajesh Bindal said that the Manipur High Court was already hearing the matter, so there was no need for an urgent hearing. There is no need to duplicate the proceedings, the bench said. Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing the petitioners, insisted on urgent listing of the matter. The bench said that there is no hurry in this matter.
The top court said, let it go before the regular bench.
The petition has been filed by Chongtham Victor Singh, an advocate of the Manipur High Court, and Mayengbam James, a businessman, both residents of Manipur.
The petition states that the internet shutdown has had an economic, humanitarian, social and psychological impact on the petitioners and their families. Argued that the petitioners have been unable to receive funds from banks, receive payments from customers, disburse salaries, or communicate through email or WhatsApp.
According to the petition, the internet shutdown was a response to alleged incidents of violence during rallies organized by volunteers and youths protesting the demand for inclusion of the Meitei/Meitei community in the Scheduled Tribe category. It said these clashes escalated into widespread arson, violence and killings across the state, which justified the temporary and time-bound shutdown of the internet.
The petition states, there is complete suspension of internet access across the state for more than 24 days, causing substantial damage to the rights of the petitioners and other residents.
Additionally, they have been unable to send their children to school, access their bank accounts, receive or send payments, obtain essential supplies and medicines, and much more, bringing their lives and livelihoods to a standstill, they said.
The petition has sought a direction to the respondent to restore internet access in Manipur.
–IANS
