Inner Line Permit (ILP) Arrangement
Recently, the Supreme Court has issued notice to the Center and the Manipur government on the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system.
The court has sought a reply from the central and knowledgeable Manipur government on a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the extension of the ILP system in Manipur.
A decision of the Center has been challenged in the petition. The Center had decided to extend the ILP regime in Manipur through an order issued by the President in the year 2019.
The petition argued that the ILP confers excessive power on the state to restrict the entry and exit of non-locals or who are not permanent residents of Manipur.
According to the petition, the ILP violates the fundamental rights of citizens under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21.
About the ILP
- ILP is an official travel document or permit. It is given to outsiders to visit protected areas for a limited period.
- It was implemented by the British under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEER) of the year 1873. The ILP is seen as a means to protect the demographic, cultural, political and social integrity of the limited tribal population in the hill states.
- Foreigners need a Protected Area Permit (PAP) to travel to tourist destinations in these areas. This differs from the Inner Line Permit required for domestic tourists.
- Manipur is the fourth state, after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram, to have an ILP regime.
Source – The Hindu
