Counsel says PIL on highway access concerns fundamental rights

Advocate Meihoubam Rakesh Singh has stated that the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) pending before the High Court of Manipur regarding restrictions on movement along National Highways in Manipur concerns larger constitutional questions of liberty, dignity, equality and protection of fundamental rights, and not merely issues of transportation.
The PIL, registered as PIL No. 27 of 2025, titled Thokchom Sujata Devi vs Union of India & 5 Others, challenges continued restrictions on civilian movement along NH-2, NH-37, AH-1 and other public roads, particularly affecting residents of the Imphal Valley.
The petition seeks enforcement of constitutional guarantees under Articles 14, 19, 21, 301 and 355 of the Constitution of India, including the rights to free movement, livelihood, equality before law and access to public infrastructure. It alleges that the “Buffer Zones” created after the outbreak of violence in May 2023 have severely restricted civilian access to National Highways and inter-district routes.
The matter came up for hearing on May 15 before the High Court. During the proceedings, senior counsel Khaidem Mani, appearing for the petitioner and instructed by Meihoubam Rakesh Singh, opposed further delay sought by the Central and State authorities and submitted that if additional time was granted, it should be subject to imposition of costs.
However, considering the nature of the case, the High Court granted the respondents one week’s time to file the remaining affidavits without imposing costs and fixed May 22, 2026 for further hearing in connection with issues relating to free movement along the National Highways of Manipur.
Earlier, by an order dated April 29, 2026, the High Court had observed that the matter involved issues concerning free movement on National Highways and broader public interest.