New Delhi (PTI): Two Manipur residents had approached the Supreme Court for urgent hearing against the repeated internet shutdowns in the state rocked by ethnic violence. But the Supreme Court declined the urgent hearing stating that “The HC is hearing the matter. What’s the need to duplicate proceedings? Mention before the regular bench,”
A vacation bench of justices Aniruddha Bose and Rajesh Bindal said the high court is already seized of a similar issue.
Advocate Shadan Farasat mentioned the matter before the bench seeking urgent hearing
The top court was hearing a plea filed by Chongtham Victor Singh and Mayengbam James.
The plea said the shutdown was “grossly disproportionate” in its interference with the constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression, and the right to carry on any trade or business using the constitutionally protected medium of the internet.
An order issued by Commissioner (Home) H Gyan Prakash said that “the suspension of mobile data services, including broadband, has been extended till 3 pm of June 10.”
The ban was imposed on May 3 after clashes broke out between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribe.
