SHILLONG: The Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Inner Line as adopted from the Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873) Regulation Bill, 2018 was introduced by the CEM of Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC), H S Shylla during the special session on Thursday.
The Bill seeks to regulate the peace, protection, conservation and constitutional governance of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District.
On the other hand, the resolution on Inner Line Permit (ILP) was unanimously adopted to notify the provisions of Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 as adapted and modified to the needs of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District.
Shylla moved the resolution to urge the Governor of Meghalaya to apply the provisions of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 as adopted and modified in the form of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (Inner Line as adopted from the Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873) Regulation Bill, 2018.
Moving the resolution, he said the situation in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District has developed into an alarming one out of the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam resulting in mass migration of illegal immigrants.
He added that the unchecked migration of Indian citizens into the Khasi Hills Autonomous District was also posing a grave danger for ethnic Khasi Tribe who are recognized as Scheduled Tribes under the Constitution of India.
Shylla pointed out the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 being one of the Regulations included in the United Khasi-Jaintia Hills District (Application of Laws), Regulation, 1952 which is in force in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District, had now been adopted in the form of the Khasi Hills Autonomous District (The Inner Line) Regulation, 2018.
Section 3 of the Bill states that it shall be lawful for the Executive Committee (EC) of the of the KHADC to prescribe and from time to time to alter by notification in the Meghalaya Gazette, a line to be called “The Inner Line” in the Khasi Hills Autonomous District.
The EC may by notification in the Meghalaya Gazette prohibit all citizens of India or any class of such citizens or any persons residing in or passing through such extraneous districts from going beyond such line without a pass under the hand and seal of the CEM of such district or of such other officer as he may authorize to grant such pass; and the EC of the KHADC may, from time to time, cancel or vary such prohibition.
Section 4 provides for the penalty for anyone who goes beyond such line without a pass, shall be liable, on conviction before a Magistrate or Court, to imprisonment of either description which may extend to one year, or to a fine not exceeding Rs 1000 or both.
Section 7 of the Bill states that the CEM may authorize a Syiem, a Lyngdoh, a Sirdar or a Wahadadar, the power of apprehension and arrest of any person found in violation of this Regulation.