Rio calls for codification of Naga customary laws

Nagaland State Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio, releasing the souvenir of the 50-year celebration of the Nagaland Bar Association (NBA) on September 27. (Morung Photo)

‘We need to zealously guard our customary laws and  at the same time adhere to the laws of our country too’
 

Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 27 

Nagaland State Chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, today called upon the legal fraternity in the state to contribute their services towards codification of Naga customary laws and practices.

Addressing the golden jubilee celebration of the Nagaland Bar Association (NBA) here at Agri-Expo site, the CM said it is imperative that Nagas come out with written laws that are most commonly practiced and widely accepted by respective tribes.

Rio said the Constitution of India through Article 371 (A) also protects the customary laws and rights of the Naga people and that is why Nagas have customary courts, unique to the country.

“The parallel existence of the Naga customary law and the country’s judicial law is a precarious balancing act. Both are equally important. We need to zealously guard our customary laws and at the same time adhere to the laws of our country too…This is where the legal fraternity has to play a very important role in not only codifying our customary laws, but also keeping it in synchronicity with modern judicial laws of the country ”, he said.

He called upon the legal fraternity to ensure the protection of the interests of both Naga customary laws and the laid down laws of the country. 

Rio said that the judiciary is the sentinel of justice and members of the legal fraternity have a big role to play.

“The strength and failure of our judicial system, its utility and credibility as a necessary organ of the State, the respect it would evoke and the confidence it would inspire would depend upon the way it satisfies the hopes and aspirations of the people in their quest for justice. Therefore, the Bar is required to be actively involved in legal service activities”, he said.

Rio also said that the true essence of delivering justice by maintaining professional standards to uphold legal ethics, is the most important role of the judiciary and the Bar. A vigilant Bar is a great asset of the judiciary, he added.

“Members of the legal fraternity have to maintain high standards of integrity, uprightness and fairness at all times so that the law is upheld and justice can be delivered effectively”, he said.

Rio further called upon the legal luminaries of the state to give their advices on contentious issues such as Citizenship Amendment bill, Register of Indigenous Inhabitants of Nagaland and Inner Line Permit. 

The CM meanwhile gave commitment to ensure that Nagaland too gets its own High Court at the earliest.

Justice HK Sema (retd. Judge, Supreme Court of India), the jubilee speaker in the inaugural programme, said the legal fraternity must walk the extra mile since their profession is to serve the public and society.

The retired SC judge said it is largely the responsibility of the legal fraternity to create awareness and to educate people on aspects of the Constitution including constitutional rights and workings of democracy. 

NBA President, Talisungba Ao, in his address said the association has come a long way with presently more than 700 lawyers and local bars in almost every district in the state. He however expressed concern that so far in Nagaland, the judiciary in districts has been playing a subservient role to the administration and stressed on the need for a more independent judiciary.