Publish all previous internet suspension orders on official website: Jharkhand High Court to State government

The Jharkhand High Court recently directed the State government to publish all previous orders on suspension of internet services on its official website. [Software Freedom Law Center v. The State of Jharkhand].A Bench of Chief Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra and Justice Ananda Sen also directed the State to follow the Supreme Court's decisions in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India and Foundation for Media Professions v. Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir & Another for future decisions to suspend internet services..The Court passed the directions in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Delhi-based legal services organisation Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC). The plea had sought disclosure of orders passed last year by the government, by which internet was suspended in the State.SFLC had also sought quashing of these orders and production of the record of review proceedings..On the other hand, the State said that some incidents had taken place in the districts of Hazaribagh, Giridih, Chatra, Koderma and Ramgarh which might have led to breach of public order.The State further submitted that the main aim of internet suspension was to prevent spreading of rumours and fake information that could have led to disturbance of law and order. It also said the internet remained suspended in these districts only for a short period of two days..Taking note of the submissions, the Court said,"...we are of the opinion that the suspension of internet services for the said periods by the State Government cannot be found fault with, however, the respondents should have notified the orders suspending the internet services in their web site at appropriate time as per the directions given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Anuradha Bhasin versus Union of India reported in (2020) 3 SCC 637."The Court disposed of the PIL, while ordering the State government to comply with the Supreme Court decisions..Advocate Shailesh Poddar represented SFLC.Advocates Jay Prakash, Yogesh Modi and Omiya Anusha represented the State..[Read order]