Shillong: The Meghalaya government on Wednesday revoked the orders that had imposed restrictions on mobile internet and telecom services in several districts of the Garo Hills region following recent violence.
In a notification issued by the Home (Political) Department, Principal Secretary F. R. Kharkongor said the earlier orders issued on March 9 and March 10 have been withdrawn with immediate effect.
The revoked orders include Notification No. HPL/199/2018/140 dated March 9, 2026, which applied to West Garo Hills district, and Notification No. HPL/199/2018/141 dated March 10, 2026, which covered East Garo Hills, North Garo Hills, South West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills districts.
The orders had earlier directed telecom service providers to suspend mobile internet and related services in the affected districts as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order amid tensions linked to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council election process.
With the revocation of the notifications, mobile internet and telecom services are expected to resume across the affected districts with immediate effect.
The order was circulated to senior government officials, law enforcement agencies and telecom operators, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio, for necessary action.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma on Wednesday announced that the elections to the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) scheduled for April 10 have been postponed following recent violence in the region that left two people dead.
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The chief minister said the decision was taken after reviewing the prevailing law-and-order situation in the Garo Hills and considering the difficulties currently being faced by residents.
The Meghalaya High Court on Tuesday quashed a notification issued by the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) on February 17, 2026, which had made the submission of a Scheduled Tribe certificate mandatory for candidates filing nomination papers to contest elections to the council.
The single-judge bench of Justice Hamarsan Singh Thangkhiew delivered the verdict while hearing a writ petition filed by Enamul Hoque of Namabilla village under Rajabala Police Station in West Garo Hills district, challenging the GHADC notification issued by the Chief Executive Member.
