SC notice to govts on ILP plea in Manipur
The Supreme Court on Monday sought reply from the Centre and the Manipur government on a plea challenging the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system that vests the State government with the powers to restrict the entry of non-indigenous persons or those who are not permanent residents of Manipur.
Issuing notice on a plea by an organisation Amra Bangalee challenging the Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019, a bench comprising Justice S. Abdul Nazeer and Justice Krishna Murari gave the Centre and Manipur government four weeks’ time to respond.
The petitioner organisation has also challenged the Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines, 2019.
The plea contended that the ILP provides unrestrained power to the state to restrict entry and exit of non-indigenous people or those who are not permanent residents of Manipur.
The ILP system was introduced by the Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019 by which 140-year-old colonial era law Bengal Eastern Frontier
Regulations, 1873 (BEFR) was extended.
The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873 was enacted to protect the commercial interest of the Britishers.
Amra Bangalee in its petition has contended that “The draconian ILP system is fundamentally opposed to the policies of social integration, development and technological advancement in the area beyond the Inner Line, apart from hampering tourism within the state, which is a major source of revenue generation for these areas.”
It has further contended that 2019 order that extends ILP system is violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 14 (Equality before law), 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth), 19 (Freedom of speech) and 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty) of the constitution since it grants unqualified power to the state for restricting the entry and exit of nonindigenous persons.
Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime is applicable. To visit ILP-regime states, outsiders, including people from other states of the country, need permission.