The Inner Line Regulation Commission of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF-ILRC) on Wednesday expressed concern that some village councils and gaon buras (GBs) are issuing Permanent Resident Certificates (PRC) to non-indigenous persons residing in their jurisdiction.
In a statement, the NSF-ILRC maintained that it has documentary evidence that certain village authorities were issuing PRC to non-indigenous individuals. The commission categorically stated that while the issuance of Temporary Resident Certificates (TRCs) may be acceptable for administrative convenience, the issuance of PRCs to non-indigenous persons is not permissible and stands in direct contravention of the spirit of the Inner Line Pass (ILP) system.
In this regard, the NSF-ILRC urged upon those individuals or village authorities indulging in such
issuance of PRCs to immediately desist from doing so.
Further, it cited media reports that certain individuals have been harassing non-locals under the guise of conducting ILP checks, the NSF-ILRC strongly reiterated that no individual or group is authorised to undertake such checks unless duly empowered by the competent authority.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Meanwhile, the commission acknowledged and extended appreciation towards the initiative of the government of Nagaland in introducing the Landowner-Tenant Registration App as a supporting mechanism for effective ILP enforcement.
“This development is in line with the concerns and recommendations earlier conveyed by the ILRC to the Chief Secretary, Government of Nagaland, through a formal representation on the need for a mandatory Landlord-Tenant Registration System,” the statement said.
The commission directed all the federating units of NSF to ensure that house owners within their districts/jurisdictions who are renting out premises to non-local tenants mandatorily make use of the government’s Landowner-Tenant Registration App, available at https://police.government.gov.in, and duly register their tenants. This step is crucial in strengthening the ILP system, ensuring accountability, and closing enforcement gaps in monitoring non-local residents, it added.
The ILRC further urged all stakeholders to extend full cooperation towards its successful implementation, while also requesting the concerned authority of the government to enforce the Landlord-Tenant Registration System stringently and bring to book all defaulters.
The commission reiterated its commitment to safeguard the rights and interests of the Naga people while ensuring fair and lawful treatment of all non-Naga residents in accordance with the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.
