The news has recently emerged that the Nagaland government has broadened the application of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to include the Dimapur district. This decision aims to exclude the entire district from the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB). Prior to this, Dimapur was the only location in Nagaland not under the ILP system due to its status as a commercial hub and diverse population. The extension of the ILP regime to this region signifies the complete exemption of northeast India from the CAB, with the exceptions of Sikkim and non-tribal areas in Assam and Tripura.
The Extension of ILP to Dimapur
The ILP extension to Dimapur has been sanctioned under Section 2 of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 by the Nagaland governor. This inclusion in the ILP regime necessitates that all “non-indigenous” individuals entering the region after November 21, 1979, must obtain an ILP within 90 days. However, there are specific exemptions to this rule. Non-indigenous individuals residing in Dimapur prior to the specified date, given they have a certificate issued by the Deputy Commissioner, and those passing through Dimapur as transit passengers possessing valid documentation, are excused from obtaining an ILP.
Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019 and Northeast India Protected by the ILP System
Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Mizoram receive protection from the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB), 2019 due to the ILP system. Additionally, Meghalaya (bar a section of Shillong), Mizoram, and the tribal regions of Tripura and Assam, known as Sixth Schedule Areas, are exempt from the CAB.
| State | Status |
|---|---|
| Nagaland | Protected by ILP |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Protected by ILP |
| Manipur | Protected by ILP |
| Mizoram | Protected by ILP |
| Meghalaya | Exempt from CAB (Except part of Shillong) |
| Tripura | Exempt from CAB (Tribal areas only) |
| Assam | Exempt from CAB (Tribal areas only) |
The Sixth Schedule contains particular procedures for governing tribal lands in the four northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.
Understanding the Inner Line Permit
The Inner Line Permit is a formal travel document issued by relevant State Governments to permit the inward travel of an Indian citizen into a protected or restricted region for a limited duration. This special permit is mandatory for “outsiders” from different parts of the country when entering the notified states. The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act (BEFR), 1873 serves as the basis for this requirement. The BEFR was established during the British period to defend British interests from hill tribes known for invading British subjects. An “inner-line” was created to differentiate between the two communities, ensuring that neither party could cross the boundary without permission from proper authorities.