Meghalaya to bring entry law for visitors

News:The Meghalaya government has approved amendments to the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act(MRSSA) 2016 to bring entry law for non-residents.

Facts:

About the amendment:

  • This amendment was brought in the backdrop of demands for an Inner Line Permit(ILP) like rule due to concerns that people excluded from the National Register of Citizens(NRC) in Assam might try to enter Meghalaya.
  • The amendment makes registration on entry mandatory for visitors who intend to spend more than 24 hours in the state of Meghalaya.
  • The Central and state government employees are exempt from the new entry rule.

Additional information:

About Inner line Permit:

  • Inner Line Permit (ILP) is an official travel document issued by the government of India.It is required by Indian citizens residing outside certain protected states while entering them.
  • The aim of the ILP is to regulate movement to certain areas located near the international border of India.
  • The origin of ILP dates back to the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulations, 1873. 
  • The regulations prohibited British subjects or Indians from entering certain protection areas (such as areas with tea, oil and elephant trade). In 1950, the word British subjects was replaced by Citizens of India.
  • Currently,the ILP is in force in (a)Arunachal Pradesh (b)Mizoram and (c)Nagaland.