Kohima, August 16 (MExN): The Kohima District Legal Services Authority commemorated the 70th Independence Day with the inmates and jail authorities of Kohima District Jail.
According to a press release, resource person for the day, Mezivolu T Therieh, Chief Judicial Magistrate & Secretary, Kohima District Legal Services Authority, spoke on “Rights of Prisoners” and highlighted unlawful arrest, protection against “Double Jeopardy”, illegal detention in custody, Right to be informed on the grounds of arrest, Right to consult a lawyer, Right to be produced before a Magistrate within 24 hours of arrest. She pointed out the rights during the different stages of trial and the right to free and fair trial. She also mentioned about the rights of prisoners on being convicted and after conviction.
She pointed to the need for rehabilitation programmes for prisoners once out of jail for lasting behavioural change. In this, Therieh called on the government to provide support and supervision, without which, she argued, there are high chances of an out-of-prison person committing more crimes.
She urged the prisoners to prove themselves that they can become “transformed” persons; that there is a chance to change but only if they try.
The programme was conducted as part of the Action Plan of the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority. In the second session of the programme, a one-on-one counselling of Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs) was conducted where the Panel lawyers sat with the inmates and gave counseling to each of them.
Altogether, 82 Under Trial Prisoners and 6 convicts are housed in the Jail at present. 36 came forward for counseling and 7 were identified to be provided with free legal aid, the release informed.
