Supreme Court Issues Notice In Plea Challenging Inner Line Permit System In Manipur

The Supreme Court of India on Monday issued notice in a plea filed challenging the system of Inner Line Permit in State of Manipur. 

A Bench comprising Justice Abdul Nazeer and Justice Krishna Murari was considering a writ petition which has also sought quashing of the the Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines 2019.

The petitioners were represented through Advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, and Advocates Ibad Mushtaq, and Kanishka Prasad.

The petition filed by an organization Amra Bangalee has sought a declaration that the Adaptation of Laws(Amendment) Order 2019 making the provisions of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations 1873, applicable to the State of Manipur is ultra vires Articles 14,15,19 and 21 of the Constitution.

It may be recalled that the Inner Line Permit was extended to Manipur in 2019 following the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act(CAA). The areas under Inner Line Permit are exempted from the application of CAA.

Explained : What Is Inner Line Permit (ILP)?

The present writ petition has been filed challenging system of Inner Line Permit in State of Manipur as imposed by way of Adaptation of Laws (Amendment) Order, 2019 promulgated by the President through the 2019 order, which extends a 140 years old colonial legislation- the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873, enacted by British to create its monopoly over the newly setup tea plantations in Assam as well as to protect its commercial interest in the Hill Areas from Indians.

The petitioner, has submitted that the extension of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations 1873 to State of Manipur by way or impugned 1950 order and the 2019 order is in violation of fundamental rights of the citizens as guaranteed under Articles 14,15,19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution, in so far as they provide unbridled and unqualified power to State for restricting entry and exit of non-indigenous persons or those who are permanent residents of Manipur.

The petitioner has argued that the draconian ILP system is fundamentally opposed to the policies of social integration, development and technological advancement in the areas beyond the Inner Line, apart from hampering tourism within the State which is a major source of revenue generation for these areas.

According to the petitioner, while the British rule had enacted the BEFR 1873 in order to create a monopoly over its interests and to prohibit Indians from engaging in Trade with tribal populace in the areas contained in preamble of BEFR, the said restrictions continued post-independence as well under the guise of protecting the interests of tribal areas.

The petition has pointed out that the effect of the ILP system in the State of Manipur is that no person who is not a resident of the said State is permitted to enter the State or to engage in business without applying a special permit known as the 'Inner Line Permit'.

Case Title: Amra Bangalee vs Union of India & Ors

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