In a bid to strengthen the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime in Nagaland, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has established the Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC). The formation of the five-member commission was announced following a resolution passed during NSF’s 4th Federal Assembly on December 4, 2024. NSF President Medovi Rhi confirmed that the ILRC will be chaired by former NSF President (1999–2001), Senchumo NSN Lotha, who will serve a three-year term. The commission has been tasked with reviewing the current ILP system and recommending reforms for better enforcement and administrative efficiency.
In its first official move, the ILRC submitted a 10-point memorandum to the Chief Secretary of Nagaland on Thursday. During a press briefing, Lotha criticized inconsistent enforcement of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR) of 1873, which governs the ILP, and called for a robust, modernized framework. Among key proposals are a centralized digital ILP database, new ILP offices and check gates, and a dedicated enforcement wing trained in BEFR protocols. The memorandum also calls for digital payment systems via UPI for ILP fees and penalties.
Lotha stressed that the current system lacks clarity and is poorly enforced, often allowing unauthorized entry into the state. “Our aim is to ensure the ILP is not just enforced but made efficient, transparent, and accountable,” he said.
