HC Dismisses Govt’s Plea on further Suspension of Internet Services in Assam

Guwahati, December 20, 2019:

Gauhati High Court on Friday dismissed the review petition filed by Assam Government seeking suspension of internet services from 5 pm to 6 am every day till normalcy returns in the state.

The state government, reportedly, had once again filed a review petition against the HC judgment on Thursday, directing the Chief Secretary of the Government of Assam to restore the internet services by 5 pm. However, the internet service was restored from 9 am onward on Friday.

Speaking with Inside Northeast, Founder of All Assam Transgender Association (AATA) and HC judge Swati Bidhan Baruah said that the state government had filed the review petition in the HC without sending any notice to the petitioners.

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The HC judge said, “It is a positive sign from the High Court because the entire life is dependent on the internet for most of the valuable inputs at an instant. Many lives like the Ola, Uber, and others who are dependent on the internet were kept o halt.”

“The internet was suspended in view of the agitation going on in the state but the normalcy has returned and there is no other way to keep extending the suspension on the internet.

That is what actually argued during the hearing and we argued on the notification mentioning law and order, Swati added.

Adding that the suspension of the internet is a violation of the fundamental right, Swati Bidhan Baruah said, “It has been mentioned in the United Nations general assembly, on internet, it is considered as a fundamental right.”

The HC further appealed to the people of Assam not to misuse the internet as many people’s lives are dependent on it.

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It is to be mentioned here that the HC winter break starts from today till January 2, 2020. So, there is no possibility of internet suspension by the state government as for any further action, the HC order has to be taken into account. That will only be possible only after the court resumes office after the winter break.

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