The inner line permit (ILP) regime has been extended to Manipur with President Ram Nath Kovind signing the order in this effect on December 11.

The decision comes two days after Home Minister Amit Shah announced in the Lok Sabha that the ILP would be extended to Manipur to allay the fears of the people of the Northeast state about the contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.

A notification in this regard was issued by the home ministry on December 11.

What is the ILP?

Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime is applicable.

The ILP regime is applicable under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873. In terms of Section 2 of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873, citizens of other states require ILP for visiting these states.

The main objective of the ILP system is to prevent the settlement of other Indian nationals in these states in order to protect the indigenous population.

To visit the ILP-regime states, outsiders, including people from other states of the country, need to take permission. There are also protection for the locals with regards to lands, jobs and other facilities.

Why was ILP extended to Manipur?

There have been widespread protests in the northeastern region against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, following which the home minister had announced that the proposed law will not be applicable in ILP regime states and areas governed under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.

Under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, autonomous councils and districts were created in certain tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. The autonomous councils and districts enjoy certain executive and legislative powers.

While introducing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, Shah had said the ILP would be extended to Manipur. He had also said an order in this regard would be issued before the proposed legislation is notified.

Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh said with ILP implementation in the state, protests against the citizenship Bill may end.

Dimapur brought under ILP regime

The Nagaland government has extended the ILP regime to Dimapur district, according to an official notification. Dimapur, the commercial hub of the state, was the only district that was not under the ILP regime unlike the rest of Nagaland, which came into being in 1963.

“In exercise of the powers conferred under Section 2 of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, and in the interest of the public, the Governor of Nagaland is pleased to extend the Inner Line to cover the entire district of Dimapur with immediate effect,” said a notification dated December 9.

All non-indigenous people who have entered the district after November 21, 1979, will have to obtain an ILP within 90 days from December 9, according to the notification.

It said that those who have settled or have entered before November 21, 1979, and have been staying continuously, will be exempted from the ILP regime “along with his / her direct descendants”.

However, it said that non-indigenous persons living in Dimapur prior to November 21, 1979, will have to produce documents to the deputy commissioner for exemption.

Any non-indigenous person passing through the district as a transit passenger and having a valid ticket will not be required to obtain an Inner Line Permit, the notification said.

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