Itanagar, June 1:
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) has categorically rejected the stance taken by the Assam-based Takam Mising Porin Kebang (TMPK) against the application of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system to members of the Mising community residing in Arunachal Pradesh.
Responding to TMPK's recent statement, AAPSU President Meje Taku asserted that the ILP system remains a non-negotiable constitutional and legal mechanism designed to safeguard the rights, identity, and interests of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh. He emphasized that the regulation applies uniformly to all non-Arunachal Pradesh Scheduled Tribe (non-APST) individuals without exception.
While acknowledging the historical presence of the Mising community in the region and their longstanding cultural and social ties with several indigenous tribes of Arunachal Pradesh, Taku maintained that such associations cannot override the legal framework governing entry and residence in the state.
"The Inner Line Permit system is not a matter of sentiment or community preference. It is a constitutional and statutory safeguard meant to protect the indigenous character of Arunachal Pradesh. No community, irrespective of historical ties or ethnolinguistic affinity, can claim exemption from a law that applies equally to all non-APST persons entering or residing in the state," Taku stated.
Reiterating the Union's position, he said AAPSU remains firm that the ILP requirement is mandatory for every non-APST individual and that there can be no compromise on the issue.
AAPSU further stressed that the ILP system is not an arbitrary administrative measure but is deeply rooted in constitutional and statutory provisions. The permit regime derives its authority from the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873, which was retained to protect the demographic and cultural integrity of indigenous communities in the region.
The Union also highlighted that Article 371(H) of the Constitution of India grants special responsibilities to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh concerning law and order, reinforcing the state's unique constitutional safeguards and the necessity of preserving mechanisms such as the ILP.
AAPSU maintained that the continued enforcement of the ILP remains essential for protecting the interests, identity, and customary rights of the indigenous people of Arunachal Pradesh.
