APP submits report on ILPS to Govt
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 10 2014: Although it is not likely to table a Bill similar to ILPS during the Winter Session of the State Assembly, All Political Parties Committee on ILPS has submitted their report to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi today.

Following an intense agitation spearheaded by Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), the Committee was constituted with Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam as the Chairman at a joint meeting of the political parties of the State on August 6 .

The Committee compiled their 280-paged 'Report on ILP System' after having 16 sittings and consulting around 33 academicians, legal experts and private individuals including representatives of JCILPS in five months.

Accompanied by leaders of different political parties, Committee Chairman Gaikhangam handed over the report to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi at the Cabinet room this afternoon.

Gaikhangam handing over the report to the CM

Speaking to reporters, Gaikhangam thanked the experts who contributed their mite in compiling the report.

He also expressed hope that the report would enable the Government to pass a suitable legislation on the issue.

Informing the media that the report was developed in a single copy and it is still a confidential document, Gaikhangam said that it would definitely come to the public domain one day.

Stating that the report provides six recommendations, Gaikhangam said that the regulations adopted in Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also included in the report.

Responding to a query on whether the report mentions the enactment of a new Act, Gaikhangam said that there is need for regulation and registration of visitors to the State and the rate of labourers related issues would automatically come down once the existing labour law is fully implemented.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi said that the report is voluminous as the issue is sensitive.

Stating that it is hard to spell out the future steps on the report at this point of time, O Ibobi said that the report would be forwarded to the Law Department as the recommendations must be developed to a Bill.

The Bill must be passed by the State Assembly before sending it for his final approval to the Governor, he added.

As such, the report needs thorough examination with regard to Constitutional and legal obligations as the Governor may forward the Bill to the President again.

The Bill can be developed fast if the Government, pro-ILPS campaigners and Constitutional experts put in collective efforts, the Chief Minister added.

Saying that it would be too hasty to introduce this Bill in the coming Winter Session of the State Assembly, the Chief Minister said that the session, which would commence from December 18, will have only three sittings.

He also clarified that the State Government had neither made a proposal to the Centre to declare Manipur as a hill State nor the State Government has discussed the matter.

Saying that 90 per cent of the total area of Manipur is hill and 10 per cent is valley, Okram Ibobi said that the Constitution does not permit any non-tribal to acquire or purchase land in the hill areas.

However, people from hill areas can purchase land in the valley, he added.

Given this fact, the Government is concerned that valley area which accounts for only 10 per cent of the total area would be over crowded one day.

On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said that he does not have any knowledge about Hill Area Committee (HAC) members' reported Delhi visit to propose implementation of 6th Schedule in the hill areas to the Prime Minister and the President.