Supreme Court seeks response from Centre, Manipur Government

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Centre and the Manipur Government on a plea questioning the validity of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, which restricts entry of non-indigenous people into the State.

The petition, filed by organisation Amra Bangalee, argued that the system was draconian and fundamentally opposes policies of social integration, development and technological advancement in the area outside the Inner Line. It further argued that ILP hampers tourism within the State, which is a major source of revenue generation for these areas.

After hearing the plea, a Bench comprising Justices Abdul Nazeer and Krishna Murari sought a response from the Union and Manipur Governments. The petition said: "The effect of ILP system in the State of Manipur is that no person who is not a resident of the said state is permitted to enter the State or engage in business there without applying for a special permit known as Inner Line Permit."

It contended that the system violated fundamental rights of citizens guaranteed under the Constitution, while granting unqualified power to the State Government to restrict the entry and exit of non-indigenous persons. The plea contended that Inner Line Permit system was introduced by way of the Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019 (2019 Order) which extends the 140-year-old "colonial legislation" Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 (BEFR), which was enacted by the British to create monopoly over the tea plantations in Assam.

The plea added that by virtue of the 2019 order, the ILP system has been effectively made applicable to Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and districts of Nagaland, which are notified from time to time. (IANS)

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