All about a new ILPS Bill

Thoudam Imomacha Singh *

Sit-In and Rally to protest Killing of Student by Police firing and pro-ILPS on July 13 2015 :: Pix - Shankar Khangembam

The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT & MW) Bill, 2015 has been withdrawn by the Manipur Government in a special Assembly Session being convened on Wednesday, the 15th July, due to the extreme reaction from the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCLPS) in particular and the Manipur populace in general.

The reason behind the rejection of the bill is that it falls short of the competence required to deal with the main objective of checking infiltrators from outside the state. The bill must also posses the potential to safeguard the population of aboriginal inhabitants of the land.

Even during the colonial days the ILP system was enforced in some of the Northeast states including Manipur. Of course, the ILP system then prevalent in Manipur was non-identical with that of the Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland where the ILP system still remains in force. Manipur was earlier ruled by one Maj. Gen. Rawal Amar Singh, who was the Dewan.

Later on came Chief Commissioners as rulers of Manipur. The Chief Commissioner (CC) was the sole agent of the Centre to rule Manipur in proxy with a view to aggrandize the power and status of the Government of India. The ILP system for Manipur was demolished by an order of a Chief Commissioner. This is a piece of story about the disappearance of ILP system from Manipur.

The issue of immigrants in Manipur had also been infused with camouflaged idea of instituting vote banks to succeed in elections by a few politicians. When such a hidden diabolic concept has become persistent, it was a writing on the wall that some of our so called politicians were involved in nefarious activity of invigorating influx of outsiders or foreigners. Such a thought of political negativism had spread far and wide in the community of politicians. This is also one of the contagious maladies and unless it is eradicated the consequences may be noisome.

Now, on second thought the Manipur government has withdrawn the controversial bill and another bill to replace the earlier one is to be processed. In view of the development pertaining to ILP system it is a crucial moment for the state government and the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS).

Neither the government nor the JCILPS can commit any blunder in bringing about the newly structured bill.

In connection with this lask, constitutional experts, knowledgeable persons of jurisprudence are to be engaged for proper guidance and ample consultation regarding the formulation of the bill. We have quite a good number of Senior Advocates in Manipur in the profession of law, but we do not at all have legal luminaries now. It is sad as well as unfortunate.

Eminent jurists like N.S. Nariman, Soli S. Sorabji and Ram Jethmalani could even be engaged for exuberant consultation with conditional confidentiality of their engagement and advice being maintained. Wisdom has prevailed on our government (state) to reciprocate with the aspiration of the Manipuris, who are now facing a threat of dismemberment.

The logical pleading of law-makers like Dr I Ibohanbi, Shri K Sarat, Shri Th Shyamkumar, Shri Kh Joykishan and Shri Simuel Risom in the house during the last Assembly session deserved praise. Their solidarity in the house and consequent walk out had multi-dimensional effect on the state government’s decision for the withdrawal of the bill, that had been passed earlier.

We wish that other law-makers including the ministers would emulate their example in endorsing public sentiment. The bill, however, must not, at all neglect in reflecting itself the constitutional provisions of the union of India.

Let us remember the constitution of India came into force from and on 26th January, 1950 and the British Crown ceased to have any legal or constitutional rights over India. Let us, as our duty, uphold the Constitution.