Petition filed in SC against internet ban
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, May 29 2023:
A writ petition has been filed at the Supreme Court of India in connec-tion with the internet ban which has been imposed in the state following the outbreak of communal violence since May 3 .
The writ petition was filed by advocate Chongtham Victor and M/s MK Enterprise propri-etor James Mayengbam as petitioner and Manipur government as respondent.
The petitioners stated that the order issued by the state government is against law of the land and urged the apex court to instruct the Manipur government and issue an order to pro-vide access to intemet in the state.
The petition also stated that there has been com-plete blockade of internet across the state for more than 24 days, thereby vio-lating the rights of the us-ers and other residents.
Not only have they experienced fear, anxiety, helplessness and frustration as a result of the shutdown, but also been unable to commu-nicate with their near and dear ones, office col-leagues, straining personal, professional and social relationships.
They also said that de-spite the gradual return to normalcy in many places, the state-wide internet shutdown order issued by the state government on May 3 was extended on May 7, May 11, May 16, May 21 and May 26 effectively resulting in an indefinite shutdown of the internet.
The act of the government is violation of the right to carry on any trade or busi-ness and other constitu-tional rights under Article 19 (G) and right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 (A) .
There-fore, the SC should declare the order of the state gov-ernment's ban on inter-net as illegal and provide access to internet facilities, the petition mentioned.