Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873
Topic: Special Provisions, Scheduled and Tribal Areas · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 is a colonial law that drew an "Inner Line" in parts of the North-East. Outsiders could not cross it into certain hill areas without a pass. The British made it to protect their commercial interests and to keep the hill tribes separate. It still applies today as a pre-Constitution law (Art. 372). It is the legal basis of the Inner Line Permit (ILP). Its limits on movement are allowed by Art. 19(5), which permits limits on free movement to protect Scheduled Tribes.
Example
Indian citizens from outside need an ILP to enter Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur. Manipur was added on 11 December 2019. Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim are not ILP states.
Don't confuse with
- Protected Area Permit: needed by foreigners under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958. The ILP is for Indian citizens from outside the state.