Despite bill, pressure group demands ILP

SHILLONG: The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organisations (CoMSO) has asserted that it would continue to demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit even though the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill, 2020 was introduced in the Assembly on Friday.
CoMSO chairman Robertjune Kharjahrin on Saturday said that the initiative of the government was as a result of their campaign since day one and hence they welcome the Bill.
“ But it does not mean that we will stop demanding ILP in the state,” he said.
According to Kharjahrin, since the Centre has granted ILP to Manipur and other states, Delhi will have to grant ILP to Meghalaya as well.
The Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security (Amendment) Bill 2020 stresses the need to verify and regulate the entry of persons to the state and the tenants or any other persons residing in rented houses or any other place.
The state government brought the amended bill in the Assembly as the previous ordinance in this regard has already lapsed.
Unlike the ordinance which stipulated the need to provide information of visitors within 24 hours, the amended bill highlights that every person who intends to stay in Meghalaya for more than 48 hours should furnish information in the manner prescribed under the Rules.
However, there is exemption to a person who has been residing permanently in Meghalaya and includes his or her relative or members of family as defined under clause (i) of Section 2 of the Act. The professionals in various fields, staff of both the state and central governments and their relatives are also exempted from the purview of the Act.
As far as punishment is concerned, the bill states “any person who willfully fails to furnish the information or provides false information as required as
per Section 4A will be liable to be punished under Section 176 and/or Section 177 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860: Provided that the first offence under this section shall be punishable only by imposition of a fine as provided in the Indian Penal Code, 1860”.