The Supreme Court has granted a two-week extension to the protective order for social activist Henminlun, also known as Loon Gangte, who was charged with alleged hate speech in July. This extension allows him time to appeal the First Information Report (FIR) filed against him in the Manipur High Court.
Additionally, the Supreme Court instructed the high court to permit Gangte to participate in proceedings either through video conference or with the assistance of a lawyer.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, heading the bench, stated, “We believe that the petitioner should pursue the proceedings before the high court.”
Gangte, who serves as the president of the Delhi Network of Positive People, a group advocating for individuals living with HIV/AIDS, faced charges under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and section 505 (public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for a speech delivered on July 28.
Senior lawyer Anand Grover informed the bench that Gangte faced difficulty in finding local lawyers from his community in Imphal and noted that even legal aid lawyers were charging high fees.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Manipur government, countered the petitioner’s claim, asserting that he had not been unsuccessful in securing legal representation. Mehta pointed out that Grover had previously appeared in cases before the high court via video conferencing.
The court prolonged the protection from arrest, initially granted on September 12, by an additional two weeks to allow Gangte to approach the high court. Furthermore, the court directed that a legal aid lawyer be made available at no cost if Gangte so wished.
Grover highlighted that poor internet connectivity hindered the e-filing of documents, a concern disputed by the state. The court instructed the state to ensure that the high court provided the necessary online facilities and permitted the petitioner to contact the registrar general in case of any grievances.
