Manipur HC Orders Partial Internet Restoration After 2 Months In Violence Gripped State

The reports said the court has ordered the N Biren Singh government to allow internet access for those who have leased lines and fibre optic connections in the state.

The internet was snapped in Manipur on May 3 after horrific violence broke out between the hill-majority Kuki tribe and the valley-majority Meiteis over the latter's demand for Scheduled Tribes (ST) status.

The questions have been raised over the government’ move of internet shutdown as the later has been defending it saying it is a necessary measure to curb the spread of fake information.

The court has told the government that it should consider whether internet connectivity can be restored to "whitelisted" phone numbers.

This is an interim order as another hearing on a petition against the internet ban will be heard on July 25.

The internet ban in Manipur has affected bill payments, admissions to schools and colleges, exams, routine shopping and operations of private firms.

Following requests filed by several people, the high court on June 20 told the state authorities to allow limited internet services in some designated places.

In today's order, the high court told the Biren Singh government to remove the ban on internet through lease lines, mostly used by government organisations, and to consider limited access for home connections on a case-to-case basis - provided the safeguards suggested by an expert committee that is looking into the internet ban are followed.

"...Find out the feasibility of providing internet service to whitelisted mobile phones without jeopardising the security of the state and the life and property of citizens," the high court said and sought a report on the matter in the next hearing on July 25.

"The service providers have said allowing internet access will be exclusively limited to those specially identified or whitelisted mobile numbers and there is absolutely no chance or possibility of any leakage," the high court said.

"The primary subscriber shall be made mandatory to maintain a log of secondary users including details of date, time and duration (entry/exit) of internet use," the government said.
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