House resolves once again on ILP
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 13 2013: Manipur State Legislative Assembly has once again taken a resolution to urge the Central government for the extension of Bengal Eastern Frontiers Regulation, 1873 in order to implement Inner Line Permit (ILP) System in the State.

The resolution was taken after a long deliberation on a Short Duration Discussion Motion raised by MLA RK Anand regarding the extension of Bengal Eastern Frontiers Regulation, 1873 during the fourth sitting of 5th Session of 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

The resolution stated that the House unanimously resolved to urge the Centre for "extension of Bengal Eastern Frontiers Regulation, 1873 or any viable law under the Indian Constitution Article 19 Clause 5" .

It may be noted here that Clause 5 of Article 19 of Indian Constitution 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.

Sub clause (d) related to free movement of Indian citizens throughout any part of the country and sub clause (e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India.

So, even if the Centre does not accept the resolution, the State Government can enact its own law to check entry of outsiders in the interest of the native people.

Raising the Short Duration Discussion Motion, MLA Anand pointed out that Inner Line Permit System is still implemented in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh and there is now an urgent need for the implementation of the same system in the State to regulate the entry of migrant workers.

The Assembly had earlier taken a resolution in this regard, but it needs to be reaffirmed once again.

MLA Anand further said that the ILP System was once implemented in the State, but it was revoked by the then Chief Commissioner Himat Singh.

There has been drastic change in the demographic pattern with heavy influx of non-locals to the State since the revocation of this system.

The issue of ILP System is very sensitive and it needs collective efforts to press the Centre for the implementation of Inner Line Permit System in the State, he noted.

Observing that the demand for introduction of ILP was just plain, Dr Ng Bijoy from the ruling party, who seconded the proposal initiated by Anand, also said that if the demand was fulfilled, a coordination committee could be set up to avoid misunderstanding over the issue.

MLA L Ibomcha from the Opposition bench also said that the Act was still enforced in some parts of Assam and it was in the hands of the Centre to implement it in the state.

Taking part in the discussion, Opposition MLA Dr I Ibohanbi pledged that full support would be given to the Government in its efforts to introduce the Act in the state.

Expressing his views on ILP during the Discussion, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that the State Cabinet and Congress Legislature Party have seriously deliberated on ILP issue and the government is willing to press the Centre in this regard.

A resolution was also taken earlier in the House to press the Centre on ILP System.

The State government has no issue in making collective demand to the Centre for the implementation of ILP System along with other Political Parties, he averred.

Ibobi further maintained that the State government has taken up strict measures to check entry of illegal foreigners from Myanmar, Bangladesh and Nepal by setting up various check-posts across the State.

However, he condemned the banning of non-local Indians from entering the State by the volunteers spearheading the movement for ILP System in the State.

The act of organizing ILP meetings in schools and colleges should not be encouraged by the volunteers, he added.

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