State govt rejects KHADC’s ILP stand

SHILLONG: The government has once again made it clear that implementation of inner line permit (ILP) is outside the legislative purview of district councils.
The reiteration follows KHADC chief HS Shylla’s threat to take legal recourse if the state government refused to approve the inner line permit bill passed by the council.
District Council Affairs Minister James Sangma told reporters on Friday the department “has done a very good job” in replying to the KHADC on ILP.
“Shylla can go and file a case against the government as people have the right to put their thoughts as per the law in a democratic setup,” the minister said.
He, however, added that the leader must weigh his words before making statements.
Shylla had said the state government committed an error and he would consult the High Court of Meghalaya or the Supreme Court on implementing ILP.
The CEM was annoyed after a letter from the District Council Affairs Department, dated February 4, stated that the KHAD (as adapted from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873) Regulation, 2018, passed by the KHADC on October 26 last year “is outside the legislative competency of the district council” as it is not mentioned in the Sixth Schedule.
The letter also stated that the bill passed by the KHADC has been examined in consultation with the Law Department.
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had also rejected the council’s claim to implement ILP.