By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 13: The state government on Wednesday said it is re-examining the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) as the Centre has pointed out that certain sections of it are not in line with constitutional provisions.
Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told reporters that the state government viewed MRSSA as an alternative to Inner Line Permit (ILP) and as such, pushed and passed it in the Assembly. However, he said, as it did not get the Governor’s concurrence, it was sent to the President.
“The Government of India had written back to the Government of Meghalaya saying that you could revisit it because certain sections are not in line with the constitutional provisions,” Sangma said.
“Based on that discussion, we are now re-examining it and speaking to different stakeholders. Our legal team (led by) the advocate general is seeing how we can move on this. The matter is complicated…and we are continuously following it up,” he added.
On the delay in the implementation of ILP and MRSSA, the CM said, “The issue is influx. Actions and steps are being taken at different levels and therefore, it is not that nothing has happened.”
In this regard, he cited the establishment of infiltration check gates. He said the idea of ILP and MRSSA is to have some kind of a checking system for every person entering the state.
“There was a huge demand from the people and we also passed a resolution that there should be ILP in the state. Hence, we appealed to the Government of India but they have not given us any clear signal yet. We are waiting and reminding them continuously,” Sangma further said.
The establishment of entry-exit points was in violation of Article 19 of the Constitution, which grants Indian citizens the right to free movement throughout the nation, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong had said earlier while explaining the MHA’s objection to the MRSSA.