Guwahati: The Union government has given a positive response to Meghalaya’s proposal to introduce an Inner Line Permit (ILP)-style system in the state, using provisions of the recently enacted Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Tuesday.
Tynsong explained that the matter was discussed during a recent meeting in New Delhi between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and a state delegation led by Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma.
He noted that the discussions focused on how the new central legislation could be adapted to replicate the ILP framework in Meghalaya.
Under the proposal, Meghalaya would be designated as a protected area under the 2025 Act, requiring outsiders, including both Indian citizens and foreign nationals, to obtain permits before entering the state.
Tynsong said the Union Home Minister’s response to the idea has been encouraging.
As a next step, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan is expected to hold a meeting soon with Chief Secretary Shakil P. Ahammed and Director General of Police Idashisha Nongrang to finalise the operational details of implementing such a system under the new Act.
Tynsong clarified that the proposed system would resemble the ILP in Arunachal Pradesh, with mandatory online registration at designated entry points through facilitation centres.
He added that this approach would provide stronger legal backing than the current ILP mechanism, particularly in addressing illegal migration from Bangladesh, a concern for Meghalaya given its 443-km largely porous international border.
When asked about the support of pro-ILP groups, Tynsong expressed confidence that the proposal would be welcomed.
He said that embedding ILP provisions within the Immigration and Foreigners Act would offer a more robust legal tool to control entry and prevent illegal migration.
If the Centre approves the proposed clause, the Immigration and Foreigners Act would effectively serve as an ILP for Meghalaya, eliminating the need for a separate state-specific law. This would give the state clear authority to regulate the entry of all outsiders, with mandatory registration upon arrival, he added.