Section 8F in The Meghalaya Maintenance Of Public Order Act, 1947
8F. Protected areas.
(1)If the State Government considers it necessary on expedient in the public interest or in the interest of the safety and security of any area to regulate the entry of person into that area, the State Government may without prejudice to any other provisions of this Act, by order declare the area to be a protected area; and thereupon, for so long as the order is in force, such area shall be a protected are for the purpose of this Act.(2)On and after such day as may be specified in, and subject to any exemptions for which provision may be made by, an order made under sub-section (1) no person who was not immediately before the said day resident in the area declared to be a Protected area by the said order shall be therein except in accordance with the terms of a permit in writing granted to him by an authority on person specified in the said order.(3)Any police officer or any other person authorized in this behalf by the State Government may search any person entering or seeking to enter, or being on or in, or leaving a protected area and any vehicle, vessel, animal or article brought in the such person, and may, for the purpose of the search detain such person, vehicle, vessel, animal or article:Provided that no woman shall be searched in pursuance of this sub-section by a woman.(4)If any person is in a protected are in contravention of the provisions of this section then, without prejudice to any other proceedings which may be taken against him, he may be removed therefrom by or under the direction of any police officer on duty in the protected area or the State Government.(5)If any person is in a protected area in contravention of any of the provisions of the section he shall be punishable with the Imprisonment for a terms which may extend to three years or with fine or with both.
