SC grants 8 weeks to Manipur govt to respond to plea challenging ILP in state

The plea has challenged the permit system contending that it provides unbridled power to the state to restrict entry and exit of non-indigenous persons

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted the Manipur government 8 weeks to respond to a petition challenging the state’s Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.

A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti allowed the request for more time after the state’s counsel sought an extension.

The petition, filed by Amra Bangali, a Kolkata-based organization with a branch in Assam, calls for the revocation of the ILP in Manipur.

The apex court had previously issued notice to both the Centre and the state government on January 3, 2022.

The plea has challenged the permit system contending that it provides unbridled power to the state to restrict entry and exit of non-indigenous persons or those who are not permanent residents of Manipur.

The permit system was introduced through the Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019, which extends the 140-year-old “colonial-era” Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations (BEFR) of 1873.

The petition said that the BEFR was originally enacted by the British to establish a monopoly over tea plantations in Assam (then part of Bengal) and to safeguard their commercial interests in the hilly regions from Indian traders. It restricts Indians from engaging in trade with the tribal communities in the areas outlined in the preamble of the BEFR.

By virtue of the 2019 order, the ILP system has effectively been made applicable to the States of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and districts of Nagaland which are notified from time to time.

The petition stated that the 2019 order infringes upon the fundamental rights of citizens guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. It claims that the order grants unqualified power to the state to restrict the entry and exit of non-indigenous individuals, violating these constitutional protections.

“The draconian ILP system is fundamentally opposed to the policies of social integration, development and technological advancement in the area beyond the Inner Line, apart from hampering tourism within the state, which is a major source of revenue generation for these areas,”
it added.

Also Read: If You Are Waiting for New Delhi to Fix Your Problem, You Are Living in Fool’s Paradise: Pradyut Debbarma on Manipur Situation

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