The Naga Students’ Federation -Inner Line Regulation Commission (ILRC) on Thursday requested the Chief Secretary of Nagaland to strengthen the Inner Line Permit (ILP) mechanism through implementation of mandatory Landlord-Tenant Registration System across the state.
The representation reads “We write to respectfully urge the Government of Nagaland to initiate and institutionalize a mandatory Landlord-Tenant Registration System across the state as a critical supporting mechanism for the effective enforcement of the Inner Line Pass (ILP) system under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873.”
RATIONALE
The ILP is a time-tested protective mechanism for the indigenous people of Nagaland. However, despite the introduction of online ILP portals and QR-code-based verification, there remain serious enforcement gaps-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 undermines the very intent of the ILP regime.
A LANDLORD-TENANT REGISTRATION FRAMEWORK WILL:
1. Hold landlords accountable for verifying the ILP status of non-local tenants prior to renting property.
2. Provide law enforcement agencies with a clear and updated database of non-local residents across districts and municipalities.
3. Help detect and prevent overstay of ILP holders or the presence of illegal immigrants, especially in the wake of recent developments in neighboring Assam.
4. Close loopholes where ILP holders move and settle undetected in informal housing or rental arrangements after entry.
RELEVANT PRECEDENTS
Mizoram: While not formally tied to landlord-tenant regulation,
PROPOSED FRAMEWORK
We propose that the Government notify a system with the following features:
Landlords must register all tenants, especially non-indigenous persons, with the nearest police station, municipal authority, or designated online portal.
This registration requirement must extend to all forms of accommodation, including shanties, temporary shelters, makeshift rooms, and informal housing particularly in urban and peri-urban areas where unauthorized settlements are most likely to occur.
Registration must include key documents such as copies of the Inner Line Pass (ILP), Aadhaar or other valid identity proof, and contact information for both tenants and landlords.
A robust mechanism should be instituted to penalize landlords who fail to register non-local tenants, conceal tenant details, or provide accommodation to individuals without valid ILPs. Penalties may include monetary fines, temporary suspension of rental rights, or legal prosecution in repeat or willful defaulter cases.
Integration of this landlord-tenant registry with the existing online ILP system is essential to enable real-time verification and monitoring by enforcement agencies.
CALL FOR URGENT ACTION
Given the ongoing eviction drives in Assam and the potential for spillover of undocumented or displaced persons into border districts of Nagaland, we believe urgent action is needed to prevent unauthorized settlements and safeguard the demographic integrity of the state.
We request your good office to initiate necessary steps either through a government notification or appropriate policy measure to implement a Statewide Landlord-Tenant Registration System, ideally in coordination with the Home Department, Law & Justice Department, and local police authorities.
“We would be happy to share further inputs or cooperate with any working group or task force constituted for this purpose” stated the representation.
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) is the largest student body representing the Naga people, established on October 29, 1947.
