Indian Supreme Court declines plea challenging Manipur’s internet shutdown

India’s Supreme Court refused to accept two Manipur citizens’ plea against frequent internet shutdowns amidst ethnic conflict. Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, together with judges P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra, stated that a Division Bench of the Manipur High Court is now dealing with a matter in which an expert committee has been created and asked to investigate if internet access in the state may be restored. The plea states that the internet shutdown is completely disproportionate and interferes with the fundamental right to free speech and expression. One of the petitioners, Chongtham Victor Singh, was advised by the Division Bench to either intervene in the ongoing proceedings in the High Court or file an independent petition there. Advocate Shadan Farasat, representing Mr. Singh, argued that the High Court had not examined the “proportionality” of the internet ban orders.

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