SFLC.in moved to Calcutta High Court challenging Internet Shutdown in Hoogli District

May 15, 2020, 4:19 p.m.

On 12th May 2020, without any advance notice to the citizens, Internet services were cut off in some parts of Hoogli district in West Bengal,following communal riots. From the information that was received by SFLC.in, it was found that the internet had been suspended using Section 144 of Criminal Procedure Code, 1973. The legally prescribed manner of imposing an internet shutdown is through the procedure laid down in Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017 which were notified in 2017. The situation became even more critical as the suspension of the internet for 6 long days would have had a detrimental impact on the fight against COVID-19.

Taking into account the manner in which the internet shutdown was imposed and the hardships being faced by the citizens due to the same, SFLC.in moved a Petition before the Calcutta High Court yesterday, challenging this order of arbitrarily imposed internet shutdown.

To read more on the case and the petition filed by SFLC.in, visit: https://sflc.in/sflcin-moves-calcutta-high-court-challenging-internet-shutdown-hoogli-district