SC says states can ban mobile internet

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to restrain states from banning mobile internet, saying that such steps are necessary to maintain law and order.

A Bench of R Banumathi and Chief Justice T S Thakur dismissed an appeal challenging a judgment of the Gujarat High Court which had upheld the ban on mobile internet under section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure during ‘Patidar agitation’ led by Hardik Patel.

“It becomes very necessary sometimes for law and order. There can be concurrent powers,” the Bench said, adding “it is also necessary during the riot-like situation.”

The appeal was filed by Gaurav Sureshbhai Vyas, who had opposed the government’s decision to ban mobile internet when Patel had launched a movement last year demanding Other Backward Classes status for Patels in jobs and education.

The high court had in September last year rejected his public interest litigation saying that the decision of the state government was “just and proper”.

The Gujarat government had banned mobile internet services from August 25 night last year for almost a week as the Patel quota stir had turned violent.