The Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has urged the Nagaland Government to constitute by law an autonomous Nagaland Inner Line Regulation Commission and implement administrative and enforcement measures to strengthen the Inner Line Pass (ILP) system in the State.
In a detailed representation to Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, Chairman, Inner Line Regulation Commission of NSF, Senchumo NSN Lotha, member secretary, Seve R Vadeo and NSF president, Mteisuding said the recommendations emerged from its two-day National Seminar on the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873, held at Town Hall, Dimapur, on August 28 and 29.
The Federation said the proposal for an autonomous commission was intended to address what it described as fragmented responsibility for administration and enforcement of the Inner Line Regulation. It proposed that the Commission function as the single authority responsible for administration and enforcement of the BEFR in Nagaland, with powers to frame and revise pass conditions, maintain a central register and call for district-wise returns.
The NSF also urged the Government to notify, within 90 days, the multi-departmental enforcement directorate approved by the State Cabinet on May 14, 2025, pending constitution of the proposed statutory commission.
The Federation’s recommendations include creation of a real-time central register recording ILP issuance, purpose, validity, guarantor, entry and exit; annual publication of district-wise enforcement data; reconciliation and publication of ILP revenue; restoration and manning of check gates; and establishment of ILP verification counters at Dimapur Airport and Dimapur Railway Station.
It further called for Deputy Commissioners to issue authorisations under Section 6 of the BEFR to designated police officers to arrest and produce persons found beyond the Inner Line without a pass or those violating pass conditions.
The NSF also sought clarification on the competent magistracy for offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the Regulation, an end to the practice of releasing detected defaulters on undertakings to subsequently apply for passes, and establishment of a holding facility at Dimapur for persons awaiting removal beyond the Inner Line.
On penalties, the Federation urged the State Government to initiate amendment of Sections 3 and 4 to raise the existing statutory ceiling, while proposing interim measures through conditions attached to passes under Section 4.
The representation also seeks closer linkage between ILP validity and trade licences, notification of an officer under Section 7 of the Regulation to deal with acquisition of land interests by non-natives, reconciliation of non-local tenant registration with the central ILP database and an inquiry into businesses allegedly operated in the names of indigenous persons while being controlled by others.
The NSF proposed strengthening the guarantor system by requiring declarations from guarantors and employers, placing a ceiling on the number of passes one guarantor can support, requiring an advance deposit and making employers responsible for reporting expiry of passes.
The Federation also urged the Government to officially use the expression “Inner Line Pass” instead of “Inner Line Permit”, arguing that the term “pass” is used in the BEFR itself.
Calling for greater transparency, it sought quarterly publication of district-wise data on passes issued, defaulters detected, action taken and revenue collected. It also proposed structured training on the Regulation for Deputy Commissioners, police personnel and other officials, along with dedicated Inner Line cells in every district headquarters.
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The NSF further proposed that verification drives involving student and community organisations be conducted jointly with district administrations and authorised representatives, saying this would place enforcement responsibility with the State while allowing community vigilance to be shared.
The Federation said its recommendations were based, among other materials, on 67 documents running to 1,490 pages obtained through applications under the Right to Information Act from the Home Department and the State’s 17 district administrations, as well as reports of government committees constituted in 2007, 2015, 2017 and 2018.
According to the NSF, its examination of the RTI responses indicated gaps in enforcement, including limited use of penalties and removals, absence of a consolidated exit record, inconsistencies in district reporting and inadequate information on check gates and enforcement outcomes. These are findings and interpretations of the federation based on the records it obtained.
The NSF also referred to the Gauhati High Court’s June 16, 2026 judgment dismissing three PILs challenging the extension of the ILP regime to Dimapur, Chümoukedima and Niuland. The Court held that the BEFR continues to remain law under Article 372 of the Constitution and upheld the statutory basis of the State’s ILP notifications.
The Federation said the judgment had settled the legal challenge to the continued operation of the Regulation and that the focus should now be on its administration and enforcement.
At the same time, the NSF clarified that it was not seeking to close Nagaland to citizens of India or deny entry on the basis of origin, language, religion or community. It said its objective was to ensure that the State maintains an effective record of who enters the State, for what purpose and for how long.
The Federation has sought a written response from the Government within 30 days, specifying against each of its recommendations whether it is accepted, accepted in part, under consideration or declined, and, where accepted, the instrument and date through which it would be implemented.
The NSF also proposed a joint review meeting with the Home Department and Commissioner, saying it intended to publish its representation along with the Government’s response.
