The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Union and the Manipur governments to respond to a plea challenging the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the State.

Manipur is the fourth State after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime is applicable. Outsiders, including people from other States, need permission to visit them. The plea contended that the ILP provides unrestrained power to the state to restrict entry and exit of non-indigenous people or those who are not permanent residents of Manipur. “The draconian ILP system is fundamentally opposed to the policies of social integration, development and technological advancement in the area beyond the Inner Line, apart from hampering tourism within the State, which is a major source of revenue generation for these areas,” it said.

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