Photo Courtesy: nagalandpost
Kohima: The Naga Students Federation wants a dedicated, centralized authority to manage Inner Line Permit enforcement across Nagaland. Current rules are too fragmented. These loopholes undermine the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation of 1873. The federation believes a permanent, authorized agency must replace the current reliance on temporary orders and police discretion.
The group announced a national seminar on the 1873 regulation, scheduled for August 28 and 29 at the Town Hall in Dimapur. Legal experts, academics, and state representatives will attend to examine administrative and economic gaps. Organizers hope the event produces a workable roadmap for the government. The NSF president, Mteisuding Heraang, confirmed that Supreme Court senior advocates Prashant Bhushan and Shomona Khanna will speak at the event.
NSN Lotha, chairman of the independent Inner Line Regulation Commission, argued that neighboring Mizoram successfully uses the law to shield indigenous interests. He pointed to the ILP counter at the Sairang railway station as a model. Lotha claimed weak enforcement in Nagaland allows non-locals to monopolize the local economy. He described the permit system as an economic lifejacket for the Naga people. "The issue of enforcement has become a cancer," Lotha said.
Despite the push for tighter control, the federation insists it does not oppose Indian citizens. Lotha emphasized that outsiders are welcome if they follow local laws. The federation is not authorized to conduct checks itself, but it continues to act as a pressure group. The upcoming seminar will also invite experts from Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam to compare regional strategies. Attendees have full freedom to critique the system, even if their findings contradict the federation's official stance.
Updated at 24th August 2026 at 1:48am
The federation established its independent Inner Line Regulation Commission during its Fourth Federal Assembly at Molungyimsen on December 4, 2024, with members formally appointed on March 7, 2025. According to the organization, previous submissions to the state government regarding these enforcement gaps remain unanswered.
Following reports of media exclusion at a recent press conference, the group dismissed claims of bias as an inadvertent administrative oversight. The federation stated that it maintains no barriers against any media house and expressed frustration that the mix up diverted focus from the seminar. They urged news outlets to verify facts before alleging that the organization intentionally limits press freedom or hides behind closed doors.
Updated at 24th August 2026 at 9:46am
The federation fired back at claims of media gatekeeping after digital outlets Global Window and Nagaland News Network grumbled about missing invites for the August 22 briefing at Hotel Saramati. Officials insist their media cell dropped the ball by accident when sending out notices, denying any plot to dodge tough questions about the Inner Line Permit or the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation.
Federation leaders noted that the aggrieved outlets never checked in with staff at the venue despite being on site. The group challenged the outlets to practice better verification before crying foul, pointing out that Global Window recently enjoyed exclusive access to an event in Molungyimsen without issue. The federation maintains it keeps no blacklist and expects critics to favor direct dialogue over public finger-pointing.
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