Amid tension in the Imphal valley, it has been decided to keep schools and colleges closed till November 23 to ensure the safety of students, an official notification said on Wednesday. Schools and colleges in five districts of the valley - Imphal West, Imphal East, Thoubal, Bishnupur and Kakching - have been closed since November 16 following tension in the state following violence in Jiribam district.

According to the notification, government, private schools and colleges will remain closed in these districts till November 23. According to the notification, the curfew imposed in five districts of Imphal Valley will be relaxed on Thursday morning so that people can buy essential commodities.

The relaxation will be given from 5 am to 12 noon in Imphal East and Kakching districts and from 5 am to 10 am in Imphal West, Thoubal and Bishnupur districts.

Need to ease restrictions

The notification said that due to improvement in law and order, there is a need to relax restrictions to allow people to buy essential commodities including medicines and food items. Prohibitory orders have been imposed under Section 163 of the BNSS following violence in Jiribam district.

Supreme Court gives eight weeks time to Manipur

The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave eight weeks to the Manipur government to respond to a petition challenging the Inner Line Permit (ILP) regime in the state. Manipur is the fourth state after Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram where the ILP regime is in force.

Outsiders need permission

Outsiders, including those from other states in the country, need permission to visit states under the ILP regime. A bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti granted time to Manipur after the state government's counsel sought time.

restricted entry and exit

On January 3, 2022, the apex court had issued notice to the Centre and the Manipur government, among others, on a plea by an organisation called 'Amara Bangali'. The petition argued that the ILP gives the state uncontrolled power to restrict the entry and exit of non-natives or those who are not permanent residents of Manipur.

Violation of fundamental rights

The petition also challenges the Manipur Inner Line Permit Guidelines, 2019. It states that the 2019 order violates the fundamental rights of citizens under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution as it empowers the state to restrict the entry and exit of non-native ethnic people.