Key Demands:
• Establish a Government law college
• Give equal importance to law subject
Morung Express News
Dimapur/Kohima/Mkg | July 7
The Nagaland Law Students’ Federation (NLSF) today commenced its first phase sit-in-protest demanding setting up of a government law college in the state. The sit-in-protest was held simultaneously in the three law colleges in Kohima, Dimapur and Mokokchung.
In Dimapur, the dharna was held at City Law College (CLC) where NLSF general secretary, Khemvu Mekru; principal City Law College, Prof. P Leonard Aier, and others addressed the protestors.
The NLSF general secretary said the federation had submitted several representations to the state government for establishing a government law college in Nagaland and to give equal importance to law subject at par with other professional and academic studies.
However, till date the government has not given any positive response, thereby depriving students, especially the needy students, who want to pursue legal studies. Khemvu also questioned as to why the state government had failed to set up a law college when almost all states in the country have government law colleges.
He further questioned how long the state government would continue to make lame excuses of not having funds to establish a law college and even and when the Central government was willing to introduce professional institutions in all states.
CLC principal, Leonard Aier, said that Nagaland may be the only state in the country without a government law college even after more than fifty years of statehood.
Referring to the three private law colleges in the state, Aier said he felt for the students as the three colleges cannot fully satisfy the law aspiring students due to lack of infrastructure and resources.
“The state government has failed not because of lack of fund but due to lack of will,” the CLC principal said and added that Nagaland has the capability to produce best lawyers who can represent the state or other in other courts including the Supreme Court.
President, Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU), Sungkem, who also expressed solidarity to the protestors, said the DNSU would always support any cause, which is for the good of society, especially the cause of the students and assured to take up the matter with NSF, Naga Council Dimapur and others to fulfill the demand of the law students.
In Mokokchung district, the sit-in protest was organized by the Mokokchung Law College Students’ Union (MLCSU) under the aegis of the NLSF at Town Hall, Mokokchung.
Officials of the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) also joined the protest as a mark of solidarity towards the ‘just’ demand of the law students in the state. Asserting that law students deserve equal opportunity and privileges, MLCSU president, C Talimoa pointed out that the state government has no plausible justification for its negligence and denial of rights towards the law students.
NLSF deputy speaker, Nungshimeren said, “This is the first phase of the agitation. If the government fails to respond to our demands, the Federation will resort to other means of agitation.”
AKM assistant general secretary, Shilu Ao disclosed that the Mokokchung Law College was established after a resolution adopted by the AKM and with contribution from every household in the Ao society.
“As such, if the Ao students’ could feel the need for a law college some thirty years ago, it is a wonder why the state government is failing to establish a Government Law college in the state even now,” the AKM assistant general secretary stated.
In Kohima, the Kohima Law College Students’ Union (KLCSU) staged dharna at its college premises near Raj Bhavan road.
Some of the placards at the dharna reads, “Give chance to study law to the rich and the poor alike,” “Study “Law” you will never dare to be corrupt,” “We want government law college with proper facilities,” Don’t discriminate law students,” etc.
According to NLSF, the protest is to pressure the state government to set up government law colleges and to give equal importance to the subject of law in par with other professional studies in the state.
It asserted that the absence of such a college has caused inconvenience to law students and at the same time making it hard for the poorer section of the state to take up law studies as a subject matter.
