While the recent article defends the constitutional validity of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Nagaland, particularly its reintroduction in Dimapur, it fails to address key anxieties and unresolved issues faced by Non-Naga residents who have been living in Nagaland, especially Dimapur, since before 1963, and in many cases, since the late 1800s or early 1900s.
- Legal Residents Left in Limbo
Although the Notification dated 27.05.2025 classifies citizens who settled in Dimapur before 01.12.1963 as exempt from ILP, it does not clarify their rights on crucial matters:
- Ownership and sale of land/property.
- Eligibility for government jobs and state-level recruitment.
- Inclusion in state welfare schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, State Scholarships, and Housing.
- Reservation in state-run Medical and Engineering colleges (currently 80% for tribal Nagas, 20% outsiders; 0% for non-Naga locals).
- Violation of Article 14 and Equality Principles
The Constitution allows for reasonable restrictions, but it does not allow permanent uncertainty about the rights of citizens who have:
- Contributed to Dimapur’s growth as a commercial hub.
- Paid taxes for decades.
- Served the state through trade, labour, or private enterprise.
If tribal identity guarantees protection, why can’t long-settled non-tribal indigenous residents be granted clear legal status and dignity?
- Fear of Dispossession Among Future Generations
The government has not clarified:
- Whether children and grandchildren of pre-1963 residents will retain their exemption status.
- Whether they can own land, establish institutions, or access state entitlements.
This has led to legal insecurity, economic fear, and emotional alienation, contrary to the spirit of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas”.
- Dimapur Was Never a Tribal Area
Historical records and the Land Revenue Notification No. LR/2-11/76 (1979) confirm that Dimapur was never a tribal area. It was a mixed-settlement commercial town, and non-Nagas played a vital role in its development. Imposing ILP retroactively without safeguarding rights of those settled since pre-statehood days is unjust. - Appeal to the Government of Nagaland and Government of India
We respectfully urge:
- Immediate notification of land, job, and welfare rights for Non-Nagas settled before 1963.
- Domicile certificates and Non-Naga Indigenous status for such communities.
- Provision of fair share in medical/engineering college seats under state quota.
- Inclusion in all health schemes, ration benefits, and job reservations like any other long-settled Indian citizen.
Conclusion:
The ILP’s constitutional validity must not override the fundamental rights of long-settled residents of Nagaland. Any protective regime must also protect those who have lived here lawfully for generations. Justice demands inclusion, not exclusion under ambiguity.
Rajesh Kumar Sethi,
National Coordinator, All India Congress Committee, Incharge of Manipur
Dimapur, Nagaland