The Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) of the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) on Monday appealed to all interstate and inter-district taxi owners, operators, and drivers to honour the Inner Line Pass (ILP) system under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (1873) as a fundamental duty to Nagaland’s security and cultural integrity.

“We urgently request every operator to verify that all passengers possess a valid ILP issued by the government of Nagaland prior to boarding. Should any passenger fail to present compliant documentation, service must be respectfully declined,” the commission stated in a press release.

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Concurrently, the NSF’s ILRC asked non-indigenous Naga drivers to carry their own valid ILP in addition to the vehicle’s All India Taxi Permit, and operators are to maintain verifiable digital or physical records of these permits for immediate presentation to authorities.

It reminded that transporting individuals without valid ILP constitutes illegal transportation under Nagaland’s regulatory framework. Violations expose operators to severe penalties under Section 6 of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (1873), including substantial fines, vehicle impoundment, and permit revocation. Such breaches also carry legal liability for compromising state security protocols.

“The ILP system is neither bureaucratic formality nor suggestion – it is the legal shield protecting Nagaland’s indigenous communities, fragile ecosystems, and cultural heritage. Unregulated entry threatens community integrity through demographic pressure, destabilizes ecological balance in sensitive regions, and undermines the rule of law in our sovereign territory,” the ILRC stated.

While asserting that the commission will continue to work towards enhancing monitoring measures, it maintained that it places trust in shared partnership to uphold “this sacred duty”. “Compliance is the cornerstone of preserving our homeland,” the release added.