Naga Students’ Federation panel urges Nagaland government to implement mandatory landlord-tenant registration system

DIMAPUR — The Inner Line Regulation Commission of Naga Students’ Federation (NSF-ILRC) has submitted a representation to the chief secretary, urging Nagaland government to implement a mandatory landlord-tenant registration system to strengthen enforcement of Inner Line Pass (ILP) mechanism under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.

In the letter released to the media on Thursday, the NSF-ILRC noted that despite technological upgrades such as online ILP portals and QR-code-based verification, enforcement gaps persist, particularly in urban and peri-urban areas, “due to the unmonitored settlement of ILP-holders or ILP-defaulters in private and informal rental accommodations.”

This, it said, undermines the protective intent of the ILP regime meant to safeguard the rights and identity of the indigenous population.

Citing precedents from Mizoram and Assam, as well as national practices in states like Maharashtra and Delhi, the NSF-ILRC stated that Nagaland could adapt similar measures suited to its local context.

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Accordingly, it proposed that the state government notify a system which would require all landlords to register their tenants, particularly non-indigenous individuals, with local police stations, municipal bodies, or through a designated online portal.

This requirement, it said, must extend to all forms of accommodation, including shanties, temporary shelters, makeshift rooms, and informal housing—particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where unauthorised settlements are most likely to occur.

The registration process should include submission of essential documents such as the Inner Line Pass, Aadhaar or any other valid identity proof, and contact details of both tenant and landlord, the NSF-ILRC stated.

It also called for strict penalties against landlords who fail to register non-local tenants, conceal tenant details, or provide accommodation to individuals without valid ILPs.

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“Penalties may include monetary fines, temporary suspension of rental rights, or legal prosecution in repeat or willful defaulter cases,” it said.

It further recommended integration of the landlord-tenant database with the existing online ILP system to allow real-time verification and monitoring by enforcement agencies. This, the commission stated, would plug critical gaps in the current enforcement mechanism and ensure better oversight of the movement and stay of non-local individuals within the state.

According to the commission, this proposed framework would not only hold landlords accountable for verifying the ILP status of non-local tenants before renting out accommodation, but also provide law enforcement agencies with a clear and updated database of non-local residents. It will also help detect overstay cases or illegal settlements, especially in light of recent developments in neighbouring Assam.

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Further, this new system would close loopholes where ILP holders move and settle undetected in informal housing or rental arrangements after entry, it said.

Stating that the situation in Assam poses a real risk of undocumented or displaced persons spilling over into border districts of Nagaland, the NSF-ILRC urged the state government to act swiftly. It recommended that the policy be developed in coordination with the Home Department, Law and Justice Department, and police authorities.