Internet ban: Manipur HC asks state govt to find ways to restore services

Digital Desk: The state government in Manipur has been asked by the High Court with figuring out how to provide residents mobile internet service.

The court was considering several pleas from parties requesting the restoration of mobile internet services that had been suspended following the outbreak of violence in the state on May 3.

Justices Ahanthem Bimol Singh and A Guneshwar Sharma's bench issued the following directive on Friday: "...State authorities, particularly the home department should consider forging mechanisms/methods for providing internet services through mobile phones by whitelisting the mobile numbers on a case-by-case and phase-wise manner."

Also included was the following sentence: "Accordingly, the state authorities are directed to consider this aspect and to submit a report on the next date."

The state's attorney claimed during the hearing that the Manipur government had previously issued required directives abolishing the ban on offering broadband internet services (ILL & FTTH) in a liberalised way.

According to the lawyer, "many citizens have already used such internet services and as of now, certain safeguards/terms and conditions have been fulfilled."

The lawyer representing the petitioners said that because there hasn't been any data leakage through the whitelisted mobile phones, the high court can issue the proper judgments for the state to gradually whitelist all mobile devices.

The counsel claimed that by adding specific cell phones to a whitelist, officials have physically tested the idea of lifting the restriction on mobile internet use.

The counsel said, "According to the report provided by service providers, there is no data leakage to any other numbers which are not whitelisted."

Since May 3 after unrest erupted in the state, Manipur has been under an indefinite mobile internet ban.

On August 31, the court will take up the issue once more.