The Supreme Court in the case observed wherein the plea is moved by the Manipur High Court challenging the order which allowed for the restoration of internet in the State in a limited manner.
The Manipur High Court in its order dated 07.07.2023 stated that the State government to lift the internet ban on Internet Lease Line, ILL and the Fibre To The Home, FTTH connections in the State after it has been ensured that all the stakeholders have complied with the safeguards suggested by an Expert Committee.
The plea challenging the said order was moved by the Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Manipur.
It has been submitted by him that this in the case is concerning the internet shutdown in Manipur. This being regarding the High Court order passed and the situation keeps changing.
The bench comprising of CJI DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha agreed to hear the matter and with the other batch of pleas concerning the Manipur violence. The bench decided to post the matter on July 11, 2023 so as to give an opportunity to the petitioners to respond to the latest status report filed by the State.
Therefore, it has also been directed by the said High Court that the government to consider restoring Fiber To The Home, FTTH connections on the case-by-case basis, provided that the safeguards put on record by the expert committee are being complied with. Thus, the said order was passed by the bench of Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh and Justice Guneshwar Sharma in an order to several public interest litigations, PILs moved by the various parties wherein seeking for the restoration of internet in the state.
The Supreme Court in the case observed and has refused to entertain the plea moved wherein challenging the ongoing internet ban imposed in Manipur since May 3, 2023 in response to the incidents of violence in the State.
The bench comprising of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice Manoj Misra in the case observed and has remarked that the High Court of Manipur has already seized of the said matter.
Accordingly, the plea is not entertained by the Supreme Court.