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Last week, the Manipur High Court had issued an order to the N Biren Singh government, directing them to restore internet access for individuals with leased lines and fiber optic connections in the affected areas.
The Supreme Court today asked the State of Manipur to approach the High Court against its order directing the Manipur Government to restore internet partially in the State.
A bench comprising CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha and Justice Manoj Misra also directed the State of Manipur to apprise the High Court of the difficulties faced by it in implementing the High Court's order.
CJI DY Chandrachud on Friday had agreed to hear the State of Manipur's appeal against the High Court order to lift the ban on internet imposed in the state due to recent incidents of violence.
Advocate Kanu Aggarwal, appearing for the state had mentioned the plea before a bench also comprising of Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Mishra, which agreed to hear the state on Monday, July 17.
On July 7, the Manipur High Court had directed to lift the ban on providing internet through Internet Lease Line (ILL) across the state after ensuring that all the stakeholders have complied with the safeguards given by the Expert Committee, constituted earlier by the court.
In view of the unrest in the state which arose after the high court's direction to consider granting Scheduled Tribe status to the Meitei community, data services were banned in Manipur on May 3. The shutdown was extended multiple times.
Against such an internet shutdown, several Public Interest Litigations were filed before the high court highlighting the plight of the citizens, especially the students in the state as the admission process for the next academic session are ongoing.
Recently, the Supreme Court had directed a Manipur resident before it to approach the High Court with their plea challenging the state-wide internet shutdown imposed on May 3, 2023.
Go before High Court no under Article 226, we have recommended appointment of a permanent CJ also just yesterday.. it will help. The moment we take it up, the High Court will stop looking into it.. saying that Supreme Court has stepped in", CJI DY Chandrachud had said.
Filed by lawyer Chongtham Victor Singh and businessman Mayengbam James, the petition had submitted that the shutdown has had a significant economic, humanitarian, social, and psychological impact on them and their families.
Case Title: STATE OF MANIPUR vs ARIBAM DHANAJOY SHARMA ALIAS PAOJEL CHAOBA AND ORS
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