Kiphire, November 20 (MExN): Legal awareness programme was organised by Kiphire District Legal Services Authority on November 18 and 19. The first day of the programme held at Kiphire Town Hall was attended by officials of district administration, NGOs, police department, women organizations, youth organizations, village council members, students and representatives of various church bodies of Kiphire Town.
N. Kano, Judicial Magistrate First Class and Secretary of Kiphire District Legal Services Authority spoke on the purpose of Legal Aid Clinic and Legal Services’ functions and mechanism. Legal Aid Clinic will be a center through which legal needs and assistance will be provided to the downtrodden and weaker sections of the citizens of Kiphire district, Kano informed, according to a press release. Resource person, Akumla Longchari, Legal Aid Counsel & Master Trainer spoke on the salient features of cyber laws and crimes, key points on the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986 and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
Neinguvotuo, Legal Aid Counsel cum Master Trainer presented on Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012 elaborating various measures for child protection in the State. Panel Lawyer, Likhase Sangtam, briefed on the importance of Right to Information and procedure of filing an RTI, the concept and significance of Lok Adalat (Peoples Court), Motor Vehicle Act. He also spoke on the Nagaland Villages and Area Councils Act, 1978, explaining the functions, duties and features of village council body. Arepla, Panel Lawyer spoke on the various provisions of Consumer Protection Act and the key aspects on rights of a consumer.
Later, N. Kano inaugurated a Legal Aid Clinic at the District Jail, Kiphire, where a legal awareness and literacy programme was organised. Kano said the newly setup Jail-Legal Service Clinic will provide the prisoners lodged in the District Jail with prompt legal aid and assistance to which they are entitled to by virtue of the section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987.
The jail inmates were apprised about Rights of Prisoners and encouraged to be well informed about their rights and privileges. Panel Lawyers of Nagaland State Legal Services Authority as resource persons spoke on free legal aid and assistance, protection against illegal detention in custody, right to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest, right to fair and speedy investigation and trial, right to appeal in case of conviction, right to be released on bail.
On November 19, a similar programme was organised and a Legal Service Clinic was inaugurated at Seyochung ADC Headquarters. Panel Lawyers and Legal Aid Counsels disseminated awareness on child protection mechanism and various provisions on POCSO Act 2012 with special emphasis on child friendly care and protection of children in conflict with law. Child Friendly Legal Services to Children and their Protection Scheme, 2015 was also highlighted to create visibility of the scheme to the masses of Kiphire district, the release said.
Later, an interaction session was held where topics like identifying jurisdiction and cases falling outside the purview of customary jurisdiction, consumer rights, Right to Information and Right to Education were covered.
