Shillong, Nov 5: The Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSS) Act, 2016 that provides the setting up of entry and exit points to check influx would allegedly facilitate influx into the state.

According to Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) chief executive member, H.S Shylla the Act should be opposed as it “facilitates” influx and urged pressure groups to also reject this Act when they meet the state government on November 15.

Shylla instead demanded from the state government to speed up the processing of giving approval to the KHAD (Inner Line as adapted from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873) Regulation Bill, 2018 which was passed by the KHADC during its two-day special session held on October 25 and 26.

The Bill was passed by the KHADC to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP) to regulate entry of outsiders into the Council’s jurisdiction.

Shylla said that the provisions of the MRSS Act, 2016 were just the opposite of the ILP.

“The then Union Home Minister in his reply to a query raised by Rajya Sabha MP, Sabil Ali in Parliament in 2003 had clearly stated that the main aim of ILP system is to prevent settlement of other Indian nationals in the state where ILP regime is prevalent in order to protect the indigenous tribal population,” Shylla quoted.

He pointed out that section 17 (1) (d) and (3) of the MRSS Act states that the “Facilitation Centre shall ensure that no Indian shall be put to inconvenience or restraint from his or her rights guaranteed under the Constitution of India.”

Admitting that Article 19 (1) (d) guarantees to all citizens of India the right to move freely throughout the territory of India, Shylla however said that Article 19 (5) on the other hand allows the state to impose reasonable restrictions for protection of the interest of any Schedule Tribes.

He said that the definition of state also includes local authority like the autonomous district council as per Article 12 of the Constitution.

“This clearly shows that legislators who were instrumental in passing the MRSS Act did not consider Meghalaya as a state of the Schedule Tribe because they have failed to exercise their mind in line with Article 19 (5). Therefore, the people of the state should demand answers from them (legislators),” Shylla said.

The KHADC chief further asked all the legislators and their respective political parties that support the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government to realize the serious threat if the MRSS Act is implemented.

“We hope that our counterpart in Jaiñtia Hills region, the JHADC will also consider not to delay in coming up with a similar Bill to implement the ILP system,” he said.