NEW DELHI, Nov 20: The Supreme Court on Wednesday has granted the Manipur government an eight-week deadline to respond to a legal challenge against the state’s Inner Line Permit (ILP) system. The directive was issued during a session presided over by Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti.
The challenge, filed by the organization ‘Amra Bangalee,’ contests the ILP regime, which mandates outsiders, including Indian citizens from other states, to obtain permission before entering Manipur. The organization argues that this system curtails fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution. Apart from Manipur, the ILP system is also implemented in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Mizoram to regulate the entry of non-indigenous people.
The plea claims that the Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines of 2019 grant excessive power to the state government to restrict the movement of non-native individuals. According to the petitioners, this hampers social integration, economic development, technological advancement, and the state’s tourism industry — a critical source of revenue for Manipur.
The organization further contends that the guidelines violate constitutional rights enshrined under Articles 14 (Equality before the law), 15 (Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth), 19 (Freedom to reside and settle in any part of India), and 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty).
