NSF warns non-participating groups over ILR consultations

DIMAPUR, JUN 25 (NPN): Naga Students’ Federation (NSF)’s Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) has cautioned that organisations that failed to participate in stakeholder consultations on the implementation of the Inner Line Regulation (ILR) in Nagaland cannot later claim they were denied an opportunity to present their views.
In a press release, the ILRC said it had undertaken a transparent and inclusive consultation process by issuing official communications and a public notice to non-local organizations, giving them equal opportunity to participate.
The commission informed that it has already completed day-long interactive consultations with the Marwari Samaj, Muslim Council, and Bengali Samaj on June 13, 2026. “The Commission wishes to make it clear that any organization which has chosen not to respond or participate, despite being officially notified, cannot subsequently claim that it was denied an opportunity,” the ILRC stated.
NSF emphasised that organisations claiming to represent their communities have a responsibility to constructively engage on issues of public importance.
The commission asserted that choosing to remain absent from such consultations was a conscious decision for which the concerned organization alone must bear responsibility. It added that the absence of any group from the process would not diminish the legitimacy or credibility of the Commission’s recommendations.
NSF reiterated that meaningful dialogue was founded on participation, not on commentary after the fact.
It said organisations that declined the opportunity to engage during the consultative process should not expect the commission to revisit recommendations on grounds that they were not heard when every reasonable opportunity had been extended.
ILRC said it would now proceed to formulate its recommendations based on the views and submissions received from participating stakeholders.
Recently, the commission had convened a consultative meeting with non-local organisations, associations, unions, welfare bodies and stakeholder groups in Dimapur on June 27, 2026 as part of its stakeholder engagement process on the implementation of the Inner Line Regulation (ILR) in Nagaland. ILRC had informed that meeting would be held at Hotel Grand Vista, Walford Colony, Dimapur, from 11am.