Meghalaya govt passes ordinance to register outsiders entering the state

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 1, 2019

SHILLONG: The Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government on Friday approved the amendment of the Meghalaya Residents, Safety and Security Act, 2016 in the form of an ordinance to register outsiders coming into the state.

After the Cabinet meeting, deputy chief minister Prestone Tynsong said, “The amended Act has been approved in the form of an ordinance and it will come into force with immediate effect. The ordinance will be regularized in the next session of the state Assembly.”

He said the decision was also taken after series of meetings were held with the different stakeholders including political parties and NGOs.

The MRSSA was passed by the then Congress-led MUA-II government as part of the comprehensive mechanisms to check influx and illegal immigration into the state after expressing its inability to implement the Inner Line Permit (ILP).

Tynsong said when it was passed in 2016, the focal point of the Act was only about tenants and instructions have been given that all landlords have to make sure that papers are in place and they should inform the traditional heads (Rangbah Shnongs, Dolloi, Nokmas).

Stating that the amendment act is inclusive and safer, the deputy chief minister said the act is indicative only for people who are interested in visiting the state as tourists, labourers, business, education and other purposes.

“Any person who is not a resident of Meghalaya and intend to stay more than 24 hours in the state will have to furnish information to the government. This is done for their (outsiders) own interest as well as for the interest of the government and people of Meghalaya. They will be much safer,” he said while also maintaining that the provisions of the act will not apply to employees of the centre, state and district councils.

Asked, the deputy chief minister said for registration, people will have to comply with certain rules.

“We will redraft the existing rules too to ensure simplest procedures are in place for registration, and we will also do the registration online. Once the rules are ready it will be placed before the Cabinet at the earliest possible,” he said.

Tynsong said that various district task forces headed by the respective deputy commissioners will have to be more proactive, and if required they will be further strengthen.

“We will make sure that the district task force should perform well and ensure that there is no question of delay or harassment takes place from any angle,” he added.

In case of violation, the deputy chief minister said any person who willfully fails to furnish the information or provide false information will be liable to be punished under the section of 176 or 177 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860.

The Confederation of Meghalaya Social Organization (CoMSO) had earlier maintained that they will not accept the amendment of the MRSSA if the provisions of the ILP are not included.

To a query, Tynsong however said the Act was passed after a lot of discussion with the stakeholders by the then state government where it was agreed that “we need not go back to the ILP since now we will have a new act of our own in place.”

While opposing the amendment of the act, the opposition Congress in a statement issued yesterday has demanded the state government to implement the original act in letter and spirit without any further wastage of time.

Reacting to this, the deputy chief minister said that he fails to understand why the Congress want to oppose the proposed amendment adding “please go and ask the Leader of Opposition why is he opposing this amendment as for what I don’t know.”

Meanwhile, Tynsong reiterated that permanent residents whether tribals or non-tribals will not be subjected to any scrutiny as they are exempted.