Kohima, November 13 (MExN): The Centenary Education Committee, Kigwema Baptist Church in collaboration with Nagaland Legal Services Authority (NSLSA) conducted a legal awareness program at Old Village Council Hall, Kigwema Village on November 11. Speaking on Village Council Act 1978, Kekhriengulie, Additional Advocate General, Guahati High Court Kohima Bench informed that the Act was established in the customary form for the convenience of the people where it was run by villagers for the welfare of people and to preserve the rights of the villagers. The village council is a legal entity for a living person where immense power is vested on the council and irrespective of its size, all village council has equal powers for their functioning, he added. He further pointed out that the village council has administrative, financial and judiciary powers to develop the village and it functions under the supervision of the district administration Kezhokhoto Savi, Ex-Officio Member Kohima DLSA and Assistant Professor Kohima Law College, Kohima spoke on citizenship law. He stressed on Bengal Regulation Act on Inner Line Regulation and pointed out that illegal immigrants are persons who entered Nagaland illegally without possession of valid documents. He also stressed on food safety and to be a vigilant consumer. Zasitsolie, Panel Lawyer, NSLSA spoke on Article 371(A) of the Indian Constitution and pointed out that it was an outcome of agreement between Nagaland Peoples Convention and union of India in 1960 and that for establishing a separate statehood the 13th Constitution Amendment Act, 1962 was enacted for the state of Nagaland and that it was INSERT IGNOREed to Indian Constitution to preserve and protect the rights of Nagas. Article 371 (A) has given immense power to the Legislative Assembly to accept or deny any acts of parliament according to the given provision, he said. The Legislative Assembly can enact laws for the welfare of the citizens, Zasitsolie said. The program was chaired by Asano Yhoshü.
