Police not authorised to impose fines for ILP violations—Nagaland Police

• DIMAPUR — The Nagaland Police has announced that it will be conducting Inner Line Permit (ILP) checks in the state from time to time as part of ongoing enforcement measures.
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• In a press release issued on Monday, the department clarified that police personnel are not authorised to impose any fines on individuals for non-possession of ILP or valid documents. It further stated that only magistrates are empowered to levy fines for ILP violations.
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• The ILP, a colonial-era regulation, restricts entry and movement of non-indigenous persons in select northeastern states, including Nagaland. While Dimapur had long remained outside the ILP’s purview, recent decisions have brought it under the same legal framework as other districts.
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• The ILP application (https://ilp.nagaland.gov.in/) mechanism has now transitioned to an online-only system. All offline applications have been discontinued effective December 31, 2024.
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• Domestic tourists can obtain a 30-day permit for INR 200, while foreign tourists are charged INR 300 for the same period. Traders have the option of a 90-day permit for INR 300 with an INR 150 renewal fee or an annual permit for INR 1,000 with an INR 500 renewal.

Also read: No ILP, No Entry: Dimapur tightens movement with new permit system

ILP crackdown catches Dimapur residents off guard

• Labourers will be issued a 90-day permit for INR 150, renewable at INR 100. Technical personnel and consultants can avail a 2-year permit for INR 1,500 with an INR 500 renewal.
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• Priests and teachers are eligible for 3-year permits at INR 1,500, with an INR 500 renewal. Students can obtain permits for up to 5 years or the duration of their course, whichever is earlier, at INR 300. Business partners can secure a 3-year permit for INR 5,000 with a one-time renewal fee of INR 3,000.
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• Key documents required include Aadhaar, educational certificates, business registration proofs, and, in some cases, a local guarantor. Notably, students and foreign tourists are exempted from needing a guarantor.
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• Residents of Assam’s border districts—Karimganj, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao, and Karbi Anglong—are required to furnish a copy of their National Register of Citizens (NRC) entry along with standard ILP documents.
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• Exemptions
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• The notification categorised ILP exemptions based on the settler's date of residence in Dimapur. Those who settled before December 1, 1963, are eligible for a Smart Card and may also obtain a Permanent Residential Certificate (PRC) and Domicile Certificate, with no ILP required.
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• Similarly, settlers who arrived between December 2, 1963, and November 21, 1979, are eligible for a PRC and may also obtain a Domicile Certificate and are likewise exempt from ILP requirements.
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• However, individuals who settled in Dimapur on or after November 22, 1979, must mandatorily obtain an ILP along with all the necessary documents as notified by the government.