Naga Students’ Federation Advocates for Centralized ILP Enforcement

Kohima, India Aug 23, 2026 ALN: To hold national seminar on BEFR, 1873

DIMAPUR, AUG 22: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has called for a centralised and dedicated mechanism to enforce the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system, asserting that fragmented implementation has created loopholes and undermined the purpose of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873.

The demand comes ahead of a national seminar on BEFR, 1873, organised by NSF on August 28 and 29 at Town Hall, Dimapur. The seminar will bring together legal experts, academics, and representatives from states where ILP is in force to discuss its relevance, implementation, and future.

Addressing a press conference at Hotel Saramati, NSF president Mteisuding Heraang stated that the seminar aims to educate the public on the importance of ILP and create greater awareness of BEFR provisions. He mentioned that NSF had constituted an independent Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) during its Fourth Federal Assembly at Molungyimsen on December 4, 2024, headed by former NSF president NSN Lotha. The commission was formally appointed on March 7, 2025, and has since examined issues surrounding ILP implementation. Representations submitted to the government were yet to receive a response.

Heraang also noted that Supreme Court senior advocates Prashant Bhushan and Shomona Khanna, among others, would participate in the seminar. NSF has reserved 20 seats for members of the public.

ILRC chairman NSN Lotha emphasized that the seminar was not intended to target any particular establishment but to facilitate a comprehensive discussion on ILP. He stated that NSF has advocated for the enforcement of BEFR since the 1970s, and the seminar would bring the issue into wider public discourse.

Comparing with Mizoram, Lotha pointed out that the neighbouring state had “fully capitalized” on BEFR provisions, with stricter ILP enforcement helping protect indigenous economic interests. He cited the ILP counter established at Sairang railway station after its inauguration in September 2025 as an example.

Lotha remarked that weak enforcement has contributed to increasing occupation of economic space by non-locals. However, he clarified that NSF is not opposed to genuine Indian citizens coming to the region. “We are not against any genuine citizens of India coming to our state. They are welcome freely. The only concern that we would like to convey to them is that they must abide by the existing provisions and laws of the state,” he said.

Terming ILP an “economic lifejacket” for the Naga people, Lotha called for effective utilization of its provisions to safeguard future generations. He proposed a separate implementing authority dedicated to ILP enforcement, stating that temporary or stopgap arrangements have resulted in confusion and inconsistent enforcement. “The issue of enforcement has become a cancer,” Lotha stressed, advocating for a holistic rather than piecemeal approach.

He cautioned that stricter enforcement should not lead to discrimination or exploitation of genuine non-Naga residents with legitimate reasons to live and work in the state. The seminar will examine ILP from constitutional, legal, administrative, and economic perspectives. Professors from Mizoram, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh have been invited to discuss enforcement in their respective states, while a representative from Assam will present the mainland perspective and examine ILP’s relevance in a globalized world.

Legal experts will also explore whether any conflict exists between fundamental rights and BEFR provisions. Lotha mentioned that speakers have been given the freedom to critically examine the ILP system, even if their views differ from NSF’s position.

He pointed out the absence of a permanent administrative mechanism for ILP checking in the state. Unlike Mizoram, the region lacks a clearly designated department or agency authorized through a permanent administrative order to conduct ILP checks, leaving enforcement dependent on temporary orders or the discretion of police and administrative officials.

Lotha clarified that NSF and its federating units are not authorized to conduct ILP checks but are acting as pressure groups to highlight the need for effective enforcement. “The seminar would seek to bring together previous recommendations, identify loopholes, and formulate a workable roadmap for the government,” he stated.

He expressed hope that the deliberations and subsequent documentation would provide greater clarity on the future of ILP enforcement and place the issue before the political class and wider public.