Manipur: HC asks Biren Singh govt to find ways to restore mobile internet

Guwahati: The Manipur High Court has asked the Biren Singh-led state government to find ways to provide mobile internet services to people.

A bench of Justice Ahanthem Bimol Singh and Justice A Guneshwar Sharma on Friday said, "After hearing the submissions advanced by the counsel appearing for the parties, we are of the considered view that the state authorities, especially, the home department should consider devising methods for providing internet services through mobile phones by whitelisting the mobile numbers on case-to-case basis and in a phase-wise manner. The state authorities are directed to consider this aspect and to submit a report on the next date".

The court was hearing a bunch of petitions seeking restoration of mobile internet services which were blocked after violence broke out in the state on May 3.


M Rarry, the counsel representing the sate authorities, submitted that in terms of the directions given by this court, the state government has issued necessary orders lifting the ban on providing internet through broadband services (ILL & FTTH) in a liberalised manner subject to fulfillment of certain safeguards/terms and conditions and as of now, many of the public have availed such internet services.

The counsel said it has further been submitted that in terms of the earlier directions given by this court, the authorities have conducted physical trial with regard to the opening internet ban through mobile phones by whitelisting certain mobile numbers and as per the report submitted by the service providers, there is no data leakage to any other numbers which are not whitelisted.

Counsel appearing for the petitioners submitted that since there has been no data leakage with regard to providing internet services to the whitelisted mobile phones, appropriate order can be passed by this court directing the state to take necessary steps for whitelisting mobile phones in a gradual manner for providing internet services.

M. Rarry said the authorities may be given two weeks to devise measures for whitelisting mobile phones.

The court will again hear the matter on August 31.