Legal Aid Clinic launched in Kohima village
Morung Express News
Kohima | March 21
A legal aid clinic was opened on March 21 at Kohima village, jointly organised by the Kohima District Legal Services Authority and the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority with Justice Ajit Singh, Chief Justice, Guwahati High Court of Assam, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh as the chief guest.
Referring to the significance of Naga Customary laws and settling disputes, Justice Nishitendu Chaudhury, Executive Chairman, Nagaland State Legal Services Authority & Judge Gauhati High Court who gave the keynote address stated that this tradition of settling disputes within the community is a lesson to the modern world. Justice Chaudhury also mentioned that it is the first time in the history of the village that Chief Justice has come in the second largest village in the country.
The basic idea of the Legal Clinic Aid, according to Justice Chaudhary was, “If you cannot go to the court, the court will come to you.”
Despite the remarkable tradition of settling disputes within the community, marginalization and poverty continue to persist in the society. Therefore, Justice Chaudhur urged the people of the village as well has the authorities to tackle the problem of marginalization and oppression through legal services. “Power comes from you-the people,” said Justice Chaudhuary encouraging the people to question the anomalies in leadership and governance.
Neivor Rutsa, Chairman, Kohima Village Council who also spoke at the occasion mentioned that 90 percent of cases are settled inside the community/village by village heads while only 10 percent goes to the court. Rutsa, thus appealed to the higher courts, to treat the cases not only from the legal point of view but to give importance to traditions and customary ways of life.
Khriehu Liezietsu, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Resources & Sports, Music Task Force & State Lotteries appreciated the presence of Chief Justice Ajit Singh to the state and other North Eastern regions which was an indicator of his strong sense of justice and also willingness to work with the local people and taking stock of the situation from the grass roots in delivering justice. Furthering thanking the Kohima District Legal Services Authority and the Nagaland State Legal Services Authority, Liezietsu said that the initiative in bringing basic and inexpensive legal service to our doorsteps is significant and highly commendable.
Legal Aid clinic has been set up to provide legal services to the poor, marginalized and weaker section of the society in rendering legal services of basic nature like legal advice, drafting legal documents and also for resolving the dispute of the local people by making the parties to see reason ad preventing the dispute reaching courts.
“Not only are court cases expensive but most times it is slow and time consuming, further the litigants faces lots of hardships and mental torture and thus pettier cases it becomes a lose situation for the contesting parties. With the setting up of legal aid clinics, hoped that the local people will be educated and at the same time their basic legal needs will be provided,” stated Liezietsu.
Chief Justice Ajit Singh in his speech mentioned that the purpose of the legal aid clinic is to ensure access of justice to all which is enshrined in Article 39A of the Indian Constitution mandating the operation of legal system on the basis of equal opportunities. The legal aid clinic will be a law centre for facilitating legal awareness, informed Justice Singh which will be an effective machinery to provide accessibility, affordability and free legal aid to all.
“The poor and marginalized of the rural population are neither aware of legal aids, as well as legal schemes available to them nor do they have the capacity to avail,” pointed out Justice Singh, adding that the legal aid clinic shall cater towards the needs.
