North East check gates under scrutiny for arbitrary practices and unofficial levies

Border check gates across North Eastern states have long been justified as security and crime-prevention measures. However, their continued proliferation raises questions about whether they genuinely serve public interest or have become outdated symbols of arbitrary authority and obstruction.

While check gates may be warranted for preventing illicit goods movement, regulating transport, or combating trafficking, they require transparent powers, uniform procedures and accountable personnel. Many travellers report repeated stops, redundant document verification, excessive delays, and questioning disproportionate to stated purposes. More troublingly, gates often function as informal collection points, with unauthorised taxes, arbitrary fees and coercive demands undermining law and citizen dignity.

For transporters, each stop incurs lost time and increased costs, eventually burdening consumers. Beyond economics, check gates send a psychological message that citizens are potential offenders rather than free individuals. This atmosphere erodes public trust in government institutions.