JCILPS urges Govt to formulate complete ILP guideline
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 28 2021: While calling for formulating a complete guideline for Inner Line Permit (ILP) implementation amidst the ongoing war against COVID-19, Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) has categorically stated that inability of utilising powers conferred under Act, rule and regulation would deem fit to be called the government unfit.

It would be meaningless to have a government if it continues to rely for everything and act as per pulse of the Centre and having such government is almost similar to administration under President's Rule, stated JCILPS in a statement issued by its co-convener Luwangcha Chingkhei.

Despite implementation of ILP in Manipur for near two years, people of the state are still unable to see benefits of the special legislation till date.

After the approval given by the President of India on December 11, 2019, implementation of ILP in Manipur began from December 31,2019 with the issuance of gazette notification.

During that time, BJP leader Ram Madhav boldly claimed himself to be the first person to possess ILP permit but after that the matter of ILP permit has been forgotten and there seems to be no restriction on entry of outsiders into the state now.

According to the JCILPS statement, neighbouring states like Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh where ILP system is in force have reaped benefit of imposition of the special legislation at least to some extent.

As per Section 2 of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, the council of ministers of Mizoram government takes decision and is able to protect indigenous people courageously and made every non-Mizo people staying in the state to possess ILP permit.

Apart from this, implementation of the special legislation in the state prohibits sale of land to non-native people and renting shopping plots to non-native people are done on lease only.

However, the existing guideline of the special legislation in Manipur is for namesake only and completely hollow, the JCILPS said.

It further said that government of Manipur needs to clearly specify the definition of indigenous/native people living in the state as per power under the guideline and who are required to possess ILP permit or else the guideline would be meaningless.

Manipur government imposed complete ban on sale and pur chase of land by issuing an order on Jnuuary 10, 2020 and this helped at least to some extent and non-locals who had already possessed land were apprehensive of losing their land, However, nothing is impossible in Manipur and price of non-judicial stamp paper sky-rocketed and there were numerous reports of attempt to register sale deed by deferring date in illegal way.

The order issued in the past mentioned that the restriction on sale and purchase of land will be valid till completion of ILP guideline but deputy secretary (revenue) issued an order on July 7, 2021 lifting the restriction, the JCILPS statement pointed out, and asked if a complete guideline has been framed or whom shall be identified as indigenous/native people or whether everyone who possessed Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) be treated as indigenous/native people.

On the other hand, PCR is almost available at markets and shops, the JCILPS said and demanded immediate cancellation of the new order.

The restriction under Section 7 of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 prohibiting sale of land to non-native people without approval of state government should be enforced and the government which could not completely utilise power conferred by Act, rule and regulation deems unfit and it is meaningless to have a state government which relies everything on the Centre.

Moreover, train service would be reaching the state in near future and trial run between Jiribam and a village in Tamenglong district had been already done.

However, it is very much likely that Manipur would be converted into New Assam, New Bengal or New Bihar with influx of non-local people and there is no means to stop this influx and numerous Acts like Sedition Act and NSA would be applied when opposed strongly.

While stating that government should do something good for the people and protect the indigenes, the JCILPS statement urged state government to formulate a complete guideline for ILP, identify indigenous/native people with 1951 as base year and identifying documents related to it and maintain complete record through NRC.

It also urged government to establish Manipur State Population Commission comprising experts and produce a complete population census and conduct delimitation exercise based on noncontroversial census data so that people of Mani pur could see the benefit of ILP implementation.

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