ILP back to square one
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: July 31, 2014 -

“When Inner Line Permit system is in force in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh, why can’t it be applied in Manipur?”, said the wordings on a placard used by womenfolk during a protest demonstration staged in connection with the ongoing public movement for re-introduction of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur.

However, these are no mere wordings and just some slogans used on placards during protest demonstration to press for implementation of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur, but a serious question that all the 60 elected representatives, who have given their unanimous consent on implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State, not just once, but twice, need to answer.

On July 13, 2012, a Private Member Resolution on the extension of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1973, a statute under which Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) could be enforced, was moved on the floor of the Manipur Legislative Assembly by the Opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi.

After a serious deliberation on the issue of unrestraint influx of outsiders into the State and the need to put in place a mechanism to curb such unchecked and unregulated influxes which could have a far reaching impact on the society, the Private Member Resolution which was seconded by two other Opposition MLAs, namely Th Shyamkumar of Andro A/C and Th Biswajit of Thongju A/C, was unanimously passed by the House.

Exactly a year after this, Manipur State Assembly adopted its second resolution on re-implementation of Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the State after a long deliberation during a Short Duration Discussion Motion raised by ruling Congress MLA RK Anand on July 13, 2013.

Just as in the case of adopting the first resolution, the second resolution too had come in the wake of renewed public movement for re-implementation of the restrictive regime, which had been abolished by an order of the then Commissioner Himmat Singh on November 18, 1950 after Manipur merged with India.

And, both the resolutions were understood to have been adopted and passed by all the elected members in the House 'unanimously'.

However, during this time-gap of one year, the issue has remained without any change.

If at all, there was any perceptible change, it could be seen in the wordings of the two resolutions.

While the first resolution had simply stated that 'the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed a resolution to extend and adopt the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 with necessary changes in the point of details of the State of Manipur and to urge the Government of India to comply the same', the second resolution emphatically made it clear the intention of the House by resolving to urge the Centre for 'extension of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 or any viable law under the Indian Constitution Article 19 Clause 5.'

The Clause 5 of Article 19 states that 'nothing in sub-clauses (d) and (e) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights conferred by the said sub-clauses either in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe'.

So, even if sub-clauses (d) and (e) endorse free movement and settlement of any Indian citizen in any part of the territory of India, the State administration can enact own law to restrict influx or settlement of outsiders in the interest of its people.

So, there is no need for worry over the supposed acceptance or the rejection of the proposal for re-introduction of Inner Line Permit system in Manipur by the Centre, if the elected representatives actually feel in their heart and mind that such a restrictive regime is required for the welfare of their people.

Unfortunately, they have failed their own people again with talks about convening an all-party meeting and appeal for joint effort in exerting pressure on the Centre.