Kohima, December 12 (MExN): Addressing the law students from Kohima, Mokokchung and Dimapur, Nagaland Governor K Sankaranarayanan today said that Law students have a ‘big role to play’, as the legal system evolves from the traditional customary system to one based on modern court systems. “The fundamental principle on which both customary laws and modern legal processes see eye to eye is the principle of natural justice,” he said while delivering his inaugural address at the 4th General Conference of the Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF). The conference was held here at the Administrative Training Institute complex.
Customary Laws have played a very important role for many years in our society, the Governor said, further stating that as population increases and society becomes more complex, we will need to bring in legal processes that ensure justice and fair play. The fundamental principles on which both customary laws and modern legal processes see eye to eye is the principle of natural justice, the Governor said. The Governor said that Customary Laws should be safeguarded while making laws as enshrined in the Constitution and hoped that law students and other legal brains can dwell on these issues and come up with some solution.
With the separation of the Executive from Judiciary in the State, the Governor said that professionals with legal background would be required to play a vital role in establishing the judicial systems. He said that students in Nagaland have been playing a crucial role in all walks of life and he hoped that the Law College students would also rise to the occasion and contribute to the establishment of a rich legal culture in the State. He said that across the country, legal brains have contributed to many welfare measures and have even improved governance by innovative use of measures like Public Interest Litigations. Right to Information has opened new avenues, the Governor said, stating that this has given a tool in the hands of citizens that can bring in accountability in government departments and systems.
Stating that students in Nagaland have been playing a crucial role in all walks of life, the governor expressed confidence that law students would also rise to the occasion and contribute towards establishing a rich legal culture in the state. Maintaining that Right to Information has paved way for bringing accountability in government departments and systems, the governor also expressed his happiness that young Naga students are using the RTI. “With time, this will help improve governance and improve the implementation of government schemes and programmes,” he said, adding that Law students can play an important role in it.
He further underlined the importance of ethics in the legal profession, stating that people impose a lot of faith in lawyers when they engage them. “In no way should one compromise on this faith as then the basic trust will not be there,” the governor advised.
In his presidential address, president of NLSF, T Lima said that the Nagaland Law Students’ Federation came into being in the year 1998 with the motto ‘Justice For All’ and is still at the nascent stage. He said that we live in a world where true justice is hard to come by and it is their duty as lawyers to disseminate knowledge to the lowest level, and through this, empower them to fight with conviction against all forms of injustice and thereby achieve an egalitarian society.
Earlier in the programme, special numbers were presented by representatives from Kohima Law College and City Law College, Dimapur. The programme was chaired by Speaker, NLSF, K H David, and vote of thanks was tendered by finance secretary of NLSF, Horoto Chishi.
(With DIPR Inputs)
